MASTER 
NEGATIVE 

NO .  92  -80842 


MICROFILMED  1992 
COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES/NEW  YORK 


as  part  of  the 
"Foundations  of  Western  Civilization  Preservation  Project" 


Funded  by  the 
NATIONAL  ENDOWMENT  FOR  THE  HUMANITIES 


Reproductions  may  not  be  made  without  permission  from 

Columbia  University  Library 


COPYRIGHT  STATEMENT 

The  copyright  law  of  the  United  States  -  Title  17,  United 
States  Code  -  concerns  the  making  of  photocopies  or  other 
reproductions  of  copyrighted  material... 

Columbia  University  Library  reserves  the  right  to  refuse  to 
accept  a  copy  order  if,  in  its  judgement,  fulfillment  of  the  order 
would  involve  violation  of  the  copyright  law. 


AUTHOR: 


DAVIS,  ALMOND 


FEMALE  PREACHER, 

OR,  MEMOIR  OF  SALOME 
NCOLN... 


PL  A  CE: 


PROVIDENCE 


DA  TE : 


1843 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 


Master  Negative  # 


BIDLIOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARGET 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


ffHa 


938.5 

mi 


Davis,  Almond  H 

The  female  preacher,  or,  Memoir  of  Salome 
Lincoln,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Elder  Junia 
S.  Mowry.  Providence,  Published  by  Elder 
J.  S.  Mowry  at  the  bookstore  of  !•  Wilcox, 
1843. 

162  p. 


U 


r 
I 


Restrictions  on  Use: 


1.  Movrry,   Salome    (Lincoln)  1807-1841 
I.  Title.  ,        .      . 


_     y 


TECHNICAL  MICROFORM  DATA 


REDUCTION     RATIO: 


FILM     SIZE: /A_Mj^^:.-^_ 

IMAGE  PLACEMENT:    lA  ^T    IB     IIB 

DATE     FILMED:__/(2_2^0.r^2^ INITIALS /kliM._^_ 

HLMEDBY:    RESEARCH  PUBLICATIONS.  INC  WOODBRIDGE.  CT 


U^- 


c 


Association  for  Information  and  Image  Management 

1100  Wayne  Avenue,  Suite  1100 
Silver  Spring,  Maryland  20910 

301/587-8202 


Centimeter 

12        3        4 

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 


5 

mln 


iiiiiii 


7        8 

iiliUUlUliiUi 


9        10 

L 


iniiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 


11       12       13       14       15    mm 

iiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiii 


m 


Inches 


1 


T 


TTT 


1.0 

U^      2.8 
y.       3.2 

^  IIIIIM 

u 

UUU 

1.4 

2.5 
22 

I.I 

2.0 
1.8 

1.6 

1.25 

TTT 


MflNUFflCTURED   TO   fillM   STRNDRRDS 
BY   APPLIED   IMRGE-    INC. 


% 


mss*' 


iM^^^- 


yrL)o  7 


THE  LIBRARIES 


THE 


FEMALE    PREACHER, 


OR 


MEMOIR    OF 


SALOME  LINCOLN, 


AFTERWARDS  THE  WIFE  OF 


ELDER  JUNIA  S.  MOWRY. 


1 


By 


ALMOND    H.   DAVIS. 


"The  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remembrance." 

PSALMS  CXII. :  6. 


PROVIDENCE: 
PUBLISHED  BY   ELDER  J.   S.  MOWRY, 

AT  THE  BOOKSTORE  OF   ISAAC  WILCOX,  5  MARKET   SQUABK. 

BOSTON: 

FOB  SALE   BY  D.  S.  KING   AND   CO.,  NO.   1    CORNHILL. 

1843. 


<^' 


V 


/I.  • 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1843,  by 

ALMOND    H.    DAVIS, 

in  the  Clerk's  Ollice  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of 

Massachusetts. 


i^^ 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED    BY    A.    B.    KIDDEB,    7    CORNHILL. 


PREFACE, 


BY    THE    PUBLISHER 


"Courteous  Reader  !— While  such  a  mass  of 
books  at  the  present  day,  are  being  published  in  so 
cheap  a  manner,  and  the  tendency  of  many  of  them, 
being  to  corrupt  the  public  mind,  it  becomes  the  duty 
of  the  christian  community,  to  use  every  means  to 
counteract  their  influence. 

"  It  was  while  watching  with  her,  during  her  last 
moments,  that  it  occurred  to  me,  that  a  short  sketch 
of  her  life  and  trials,  might  be  a  benefit  to  others  by 
placing  in  the  hands  of  the  ^\xh\ic,  fads  rather  than 
FICTION.    And  in  the  language  of  another,— 

"  The  Memorials  of  the  good,  constitute  one  of 
the  most  sacred  possessions  of  the  church  of  Christ 
It  is  not  submitted  to  our  choice,  whetlier  or  not,  we 
will  preserve  and  hand  down  the  character  of  such 
as  have  been  eminent  in  their  day,  for  the  savor  and 
strength  of  tlieir  piety— the  ardor  and  steadfastness 
of  their  devotion,  the  consistency  and  power  of  their 
example,  and  the  abundance  and  success  of  their 


IV 


PREFACE. 


labors  in  the  cause  of  their  Crucified  King.  There 
is  a  moral  obligation,  resting  on  each  successive 
generation  of  her  children,  to  perpetuate  these  living 
evidences  of  ChristianUijy 

"  At  the  time  I  placed  her  papers  in  the  hands  of 
the  Autlior,  I  had  but  a  faint  idea  of  publishing  her 
Memoir.     But  the  additional  amount  of  matter  col- 
lected—and the  many  interesting  facts,  embodied, 
all  conspired  to  increase  tlie  conviction  that  such  a 
work  would  be  highly  valuable  to  the  public.    But 
what  finally  led  me  to  decide  in  favor  of  this  step 
was,  that  I  might  be  more  extensively  useful,  by 
causing  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  reader,  a 
*  wntten  monument, '  that  will  preach  after  I  am  laid 
in  the  dust  with  her.    These  are  my  only  motives  in 
publishing  this  work;  and  if  these  records  of  my 
beloved  companion,  and  fellow  laborer  in  the  gospel, 
shall  be  instrumental  in  awakening  one  impenitent 
sinner,  or  of  stirring  up  the  minds  of  any  to  greater 
usefulness,  I  shall  rejoice,  and  my  object  will  have 
been  accomplished.    I  conclude  in  the  prayer  of 

another,—*  Hand  it,  O  my  Savior,  to  dying  men  and 

women,  with  a  blessing  from  above.'" 

J.   S.   MOWRT. 

Smithjkldy  R  /.,  May  9th,  184^ 


I 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Apology  for  this  work 9 

Manner  of  collecting  the  facts 10 

Objection  to  female  preaching  considered    .    .  12 

Women  preached  in  the  days  of  the  apostles  16 

CHAPTER   I. 

YOUTH. 

Birth  and  parentage 20 

Personal  appearance .21 

Private  and  christian  character 23 

Education ^6 

Experience       gg 

Baptism       ^j 

Unites  with  the  F.  W.  Baptist  church     .    ,    .  32 


yi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  II. 

A     CALL     TO     PREACH. 

A  call  to  preach  defined 3* 

Her  own  convictions  in  relation  to  preaching  36 

Preached  her  first  sermon 43 

Her  style  of  preaching ^^ 

A  sermon  at  midnight ^^ 

CHAPTER   III. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

At  work  in  the  factory  at  Taunton       ....  49 

Leaves  Taunton— Anecdote 50 

Goes  to  Easton ^^ 

Preaches  at  Capt.  White's,  Raynham   ....  54 

Conversion  of  Sophronia  Packard 57 

Death  of  the  same 

CHAPTER   IV. 

THE     FEMALE    PREACHER. 

Introductory  remarks 62 

Preaches  in  Taunton 64 

Meets  with  opposition  in  a  neighboring  town  66 

Preaches  at  Rochester,  Mass.,  in  a  grove     .     .  69 

Visits  and  preaches  at  East  Falmouth,  Mass.    .  70 

Conversion  of  Benjamin  and  Simeon  Eldrich  72 


CONTENTS. 


Vll 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE     FEMALE     PREACHER 

Continued, 

Introductory  remarks 7g 

Visits  Sandwich  and  East  Falmouth    ,     ...  78 

From  Falmouth  goes  to  Martha's  Vineyard  .    .  79 

Preaches  at  Holmes'  Hole gx 

Preaches  in  a  grove  at  North  Shore    ....  84 

Conversion  of  a  friend gg 

Leaves  the  Vineyard  after  spending  a  few  months  95 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE     FEMALE     PREACHER. 

Concluded. 

Introductory  remarks gg 

After  visiting  home,  returns  to  Martha's  Vineyard  100 

Visits  and  preaches  at  Nantucket 103 

Preaches  in  Boston jqS 

From  Boston  goes  to  South  Bridgewater  .  .  109 
Returns  to  Boston  and  stops  511- weeks  .  .  .110 
Burning  of  the  Convent  at  Charlestown.  .  .  112 
Visits  various  sections  of  Maine 116 


viu 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE     WIFE. 


121 
123 
126 
131 
133 
141 
143 


Remarks  on  the  choice  of  a  companion 
First  acquaintance  with  Elder  Mowry 

Labors  in  Tiverton 

Interesting  visit  to  Martha's  Vineyard 
Marriage  to  Eld.  Mowrt,  &c.&c. 
Birth  and  death  of  her  first  child  . 
Unites  with  the  church  at  Tiverton    . 

CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE     LAST     SICKNESS. 

Introductory  remarks 145 

Preached  her  Last  Sermon 148 

Last  hours — State  of  mind  in  view  of  death  .    .  150 

Suffers  extreme  bodily  pain  and  death  .    .     .  151 

Funeral  Service  and  burial  at  midnight   .     .  153 

Requiem,  l^c.  ^c 1^9 

Place  of  burial -  1^1 


INTRODUCTION. 


"  While  thus  wiihiu,  contending  armies  strove, 
Without,  the  christian  had  his  trials  too.  "—Pollok. 

Apology  for  this  work.     I  am    aware,  that 
female  preachinor  at  the  present  day,  among  a  large 
and  respectable  body  of  christians,  has  become  very 
unpopular.     But  this  is  no  reason  why  we  should 
keep  silent    Many  things  which  are  rejected  by  the 
world,   are  undoubtedly  approved  by  God.    Vital 
Christianity,  is  unpopular ;  as  but  few  embrace  its 
principles,  and  if  an  individual  would  become  a 
truly  devoted  christian,  in  the  sight  of  God,  he  must 
at  the  same  time,  lose  the   popular  favor  of  the 
world.    But  is  this  a  sufficient  reason  why  the  minis- 
ter  of  the  gospel,  who  believes  in  holiness  of  heart, 
should  keep  silent  ?    On  the  other  hand,  is  it  not  the 
very  reason  why  he  should  cry  aloud  against  every 
sin,  and  spare  not  ? 

From  these  remarks,  the  reader  will  perceive,  that 
the  author  of  this  work,  has  not  written,  expecting  to 
gam  the  popular  favor  of  the  world,  but  from  a  strong 
conviction  of  right;  and  if  by  thus  doing,  he  can 

4m 


'Iio 


INTRODUCTION. 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


n 


W\ 


promote  the  cause  of  virtue  and  holiness,  he  will 
have  accomplished  all  he  desires,  and  the  world  may 
re'Tard  iiis  labors  as  they  choose. 

Manner  of  collecting  the  Facts:  — Soon 
after  the  death  of  Mrs.  Mowry,  her  husband,  togetlier 
with  some  other  friends,  were  desirous  that  her  life 
should  appear  before  the  public.  And  at  their  urgent 
request,  the  author  undertook  the  task  of  preparing 
it  for  the  press :  — a  task,  for  which,  he  feels  himself 
but  poorly  qualified. 

At  her  deaUi,  Sister  Mowry  left  a  Journal  of  about 
thirty   pages,  and  that,  written  during  a  period  of 
but  little  Importance  in  her  history.    Besides  this 
she  left  nearly,  if  not  quite,  one  hundred  letters, 
from  different  individuals.    These  too,  contained  but 
few  facts  relative  to  her.    Under  these  considera- 
tions, we  concluded  to  visit  the  different  places  where 
she  had  labored,  and  collect  what  facts  we  could, 
and  the  letters  written  by  herself.— We  collected 
about  fifty,  together  with  many  more  interesting  in- 
cidents.    And  from  these,  together  with  her  journal, 
we  were  able  to  trace  her  history,  from  birth  to  death. 
From  the  manner  her  journal  has  been  collected, 
it  would  not  be  surprising  if  the  reader  should  find 
some  errors;  especially  among  the  dates.    Should 
this  be  the  case,  we  trust  the  above  explanation  will 
serve  as  an  apology. 
Reasons  why  Mrs.  Mowry  entered  the  field 

OF    LABOR,   AS   A     PREACHER   OF    THE     GOSPEL.  — It 

could  not  have  been  a  love  of  gain,  that  prompted 


Sister  Mowry  to  go  out  from  home,  as  a  public  speaker ; 
as  her  labors  in  tlie  gospel  field  never  supported  her,' 
neither  did  she  expect  it.     It  was  not  from  a  Jove  of 
ease,  as  she  knew  something  of  the  hardships  attend- 
ing such  a  course,  even  before  she  engaged.    Neither 
was  it  from  a  love  of  self-aggrandizement ;  as  she 
well  knew,  from  the  example  of  those  who  had  pre- 
ceded  her,  that  she  must  certainly  meet    with  the 
slander,  and  bitter  reproach  of  the  world.    This  is 
somewhat  peculiar  to  all  devoted  christians,  but  es- 
pecially Female  Preachers.     Pollok  in  speaking  of 
the  slander  and  reproach  heaped  upon  the  christian 
says : —  ' 

"  And  slander,  worse  than  mockery,  or  sword, 
Or  death,  stood  nightly  at  her  horrid  forge, 
And  fabricated  lies,  to  stain  his  name, 
And  wound  his  peace. " 

Christ  says, -« If  ye  were  of  the  world,  the  world 
would  love  his  own ;  but  because  ye  are  not  of 
the  world,  but  I  have  chosen  you  out  of  the  world, 
therefore  the  world  hateth  you."  -  St.  John  15 :  19  - 
But  m  the  language  of  the  poet, 

*  *  *  Still  she  had  a  source 
Of  happmess,  that  men  could  neither  give 
Nor  take  away :  The  Avenue  that  led  ^ 
To  IMMORTALITY  before  her  lay.  " 

I  firmly  believe,  all  that  ever  prompted  Mrs. 
Mowry  to  take  tlie  stand  she  did,  was  a  deep  rooted 
conviction,  like  Paul;  that,-"  Woe  is  tome,  if  I 
J^REACH  not  the  gospel. '» 


Ill 


lip 


I 


12         .f^'         INTRODUCTION. 

Objections  to  Female  Preachers  :    It  is  ad- 
vocated with  considerable  warmth,  that  woman  is 
acting  out  of  her  sphere,  wlien  she  takes  a  part  in 
the  public  congregation.    I  once,  from  a  prejudice 
early  imbibed,  without  searching  for  the  « thus  saith 
the  Lord,"  maintained  the  same  views.    But  what- 
ever may  have  been  my  former  opinion,  I  am  now 
satisfied,  that  God's  ways  are  not  as  our  ways;  and 
he  will  choose  just  such  agents  to  execute  his  plans, 
as  best  subserves  his  ends.     And  when  he  has  chosen 
them,  he  will  give  them  an  evidence,  that  they  are 
his  ser\'ants.    And  if  Mrs.  Mowry  did  not  have  this, 
we  can  gain  no  evidence  that  any  individual  has, 
since  the  days  of  the  apostles. 

The   principal  objection  to  female  speaking   in 
public,  arises  from  early  prejudice.    And  in  fact  one 
autlior  in  a  recent  article  on  tliis  subject,  speaking 
of  1  Cor.  xiv.  34,35,  says  — "Having  been  familiar 
with  these  passages  from  my  youth,  I  have  never 
doubted   for  a  moment,   the  unscripturalness   and 
impropriety  of  females  becoming  public  exhorters, 
teachers  and  speakers.—"    It  is  somewhat  remark- 
able that  whenever  this  subject  is  introduced,  the 
objector  always  resorts  to  the  Fourteenth  chapter  of 
1  Corinthians,  — as  though  there    were  no  other 
passage  in  scripture,  of  sufficient  strength  to  meet 
their  preconceived  notions.    But  as  we  shall  soon 
have  occasion  to  refer  to  that,  we  will   leave  it  for 
the  present. 

Another  objection  to  female  preaching,  is,  that 


1 


INTRODUCTION. 


13 


it  would  be  improper  for  women  to  become  pastors. 
It  is  not  my  intention,  to  advocate  Female  Pastors; 
but  a  woman  may  express  her  views  in  public,  by 
way  of  exhortation  &c.;  — without  taking  upon  her- 
self the  care  of  a  church.    As  in  the   days  of  the 
apostles,  tliere  were  different  gifb  in  the  church,  so 
it  is  at  the  present  day.    "  Now  there  are  diversities 
of  gifts,  but  the  same  spirit;   And  there  are  differ- 
ences of  administration,  but  the  same  Lord.  *  *  * 
For  to  one  is  given  by  the  spirit,  the  ivord  of  wisdom, 
to  another,  the  word  of  knowledge  by  the  same  spirit; 
To  another,/////*  by  the  same  spirit;  To  another,  the 
gi/}  of  healiiig  by  the  same  spirit;  To  another,  the 
working  of  miracles;  to  another,  prophecy;  to  another, 
discerning  of  spirits;    to   another,   divers  kinds  of 
tongues,  to  another,  interpretation  of  tongues : " — 
1  Cor.  xii.  4,  5,  8,  9,  10. 

But  some  who  admit  the  propriety  of  women 
speaking  in  public  conference,  deny  them  the  right 
of  going  into  the  pulpit,  and  taking  a  text  for  the 
foundation  of  remarks ;  but  I  have  yet  to  learn,  that 
the  pulpit  is  a  more  sacred  place,  than  any  other  por- 
tion of  the  house.     And  if  it  is  right  for  woman  to 
speak  in  public  conference,  it  is  right  for  her  to  quote 
passages  of  scripture,  and  if  right  to  quote  scripture, 
it  is  also  right  to  take  a  passage  as  the  foundation  of 
remarks;  and  as  the  desk  is  not  the  sanctum  sanc- 
torum of  God's  house,  it  is  equally  right  to  enter 
that —  with  a  text  selected  from  the  word  of  God. 
But  the  strongest  objection  in  the  minds  of  many, 
2* 


r 


INTRODUCTION 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


III 


Ifii 


if  It 


is  ^^It  is  UNPOPULAR."  Says  the  same  author  to  whom 
we  have  just  alluded  :  —  "As  to  the  usages  of  tlie 
Baptist  churches,  permit  me  to  say,  that  in  England 
such  a  practise  is  not  known,  and  would  not  be  tol- 
erated. "  lie  also  refers  to  the  Middle  States  of 
this  country.  But  had  lie  referred  to  the  apostolic 
dispensation  instead  of  those  places,  I  tliink  the 
argument  would  have  been  better  grounded.  But 
leaving  this  part  of  the  subject ;  I  row  proceed  to 
notice  the  objection  raised  from  the  Epistle  of  Paul 
to  the  Corinthians. 

"Let  your  womex  keep  silence  in  the  chur- 
ches, "  <&LC.  1  Cor.  xiv.  31.  The  subject  of  female 
preaching,  can  scarcely  be  introduced,  but  what  this 
oft  repeated  passage  is  rehearsed.  But  tiiat  Ave  may 
be  mistaken  in  Paul's  meaning,  is  not  impossible. 
Dr.  Clark  remarks  in  his  comments  on  this  verse;  — 
"  This  was  a  Jewisli  ordinance.  Women  were  not 
permitted  to  teacli  in  their  assemblies,  or  even  to  ask 
questions.  The  Rabbles  taught,  that  woman,  should 
know  nothing  but  the  use  of  her  distaff. " 

The  same  doctrine  is  extensively  taught,  among 
all  the  barbarous  nations  at  the  present  day.  But 
the  sentiment,  savors  too  much  of  oppression,  to  be 
advocated  in  this  enliglitcned  age.  And  again  it 
should  be  remembered,  that  it  is  the  doctrine  of 
men,  and  not  of  God — It  lays  no  claim  to  Divine 
Inspiration.  Rabbi  Elezar  also  remarks,  "  Let  the 
words  of  the  Law  be  burned,  rather  than  that  they 
should  be  delivered  to  woman. "    But  where  is  the 


christian,  that  would  be  willing  now  to  embrace  this 
sentiment. 

That  the  apostle  did  not  mean  to  preclude  woman 
from  speaking  in  public,  is  self  evident,  when  we  take 
into  consideration  liis  remarks  on  other  occasions. 
"  But  every  woman  that  prayetli  or  prophesieth  with 
her  head  uncovered  dishonoreth  lier  head, "  &c.  — 
1  Cor.  xi.  5.  Says  Dr.  Clark,  "  Whatever  may  be  the 
meaning  of  praying  or  prophesying  in  respect  to  tlie 
man :  they  have  precisely  the  same  meaning  in  re- 
spect to  the  woman ;  so  tliat  women,  at  Ieast°as  well 
as  some  men,  might  speak  to  others,  to  edification, 
exhortation  and  comfort. " 

The  apostle  in  making  the  remark,  which  he  did 
in  the  fourteenth  cliapter  of  Corinthians,  instead  of 
intending  to  prohibit  Pious  Females  from  speaking 
for  the  edification  of  others,  alluded  to  the  confusion 
which  frequently  occurred  in  the  churclies,  by  the 
troublesome  asking  of  questions ;  and  probably  wo- 
men, as  well  as  men  frequently  annoyed  them  in 
this  way.    This  is  evident  from  the  three  precedincr 
verses,  commencing  at  the  31st— «  For  ye  may  all 
prophesy,  one  by  one,  tliat  all  may  learn,  and  all  be 
comforted  ?  a3  verse.     For  God  is  not  the  author  of 
confusion,  but  of  peace,  as  in  all  churches  of  the 
saints. "  *-Then  comes  the  words  under  consider- 
ation :  -«Let  your  women  keep  silence  in  the  chur- 
ches, for  It  is  not  permitted  unto  them  to  speak;  but 


See  aUo :  -  II  Timothy  ii.  23.    Titus 


iii.  9. 


t 


6 


INT  R  OD  UCT  I  O  N. 


they  are  commanded  to  be  under  obedience,  as  also 
saith  the  law. 

Women  did  Prophesy,  or  Preach  in  the  time 
OF  Christ  and  the  apostles;  a.nd  were  ap- 
proved. The  term  prophesy  in  scripture,  as  gener- 
ally used  is  nearly  synonymous  witli  the  term  preach- 
ing as  understood  at  the  present  day.  The  term 
prophesy  —  signifies  explaining  scripture,  speaking 
to  the  church  in  public,  by  way  of  exhortation,  sing- 
ing the  praises  of  God,  in  the  language  of  inspira- 
tion, or  foretelling  future  events.  *  That  prophesy- 
ing and  exhortation,  or  preaching,  was  understood 
by  the  apostle  to  mean  the  same,  is  evident  from  his 
words  in  1  Cor.  xiv.  3.  —  "  But  he  that  Prophesyeth, 
speaketh  unto  men  to  edification,  and  exhortation, 
and  comfort. "  Again  the  Revelator  declares  that 
the  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  spirit  of  Prophesy. — 
Rev.  xix.  10. 

That  women  were  to  prophesy  is  evident  from 
Joel  xi.  28  verse,  —  "  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  af- 
terwards, that  I  will  pour  out  my  spirit  upon  all  flesh  ; 
and  your  sons,  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy, 
&c." 

Here  we  see  that  the  spirit  of  prophesy,  was  to  be 
poured  out  upon  woman,  as  well  as  man :  And  that 
women  did  Prophesij  or  Preach  in  the  time  of  Christ 
and  his  apostles  is  still  more  evident  Mariam  and 
Deborah  prophesied.     And    the  Prophetess  Anna, 


INTRODUCTION. 


17 


♦  See  Encyclopedia  of  Religious  knowledge 
Prophet. 


Article 


bore  testimony  at  the  coming  of  Christ,  as  well  as 
Simeon.  The  apostle  was  aware  that  women 
prophesied  ;  For  the  sacred  penman  tells  us :  — 
Acts  xxi.  8,  9.  And  the  next  day  we  that  were  of 
Paul's  company,  departed  and  came  into  Ceserea; 
and  we  entered  the  house  of  Philip  the  Evangelist, 
which  was  one  of  the  seven,  and  abode  with  him. 
And  the  same  man  had  Four  daughters,  virgins, 
which  did  Prophesy. 

No  comment  need  be  made  upon  these  last  refer- 
ences. And  I  will  close  by  simply  adding,  that 
Aquila,  and  Priscilla,  expounded  the  law  unto  Apol- 
los,  who  himself,  was  an  eloquent  man,  and  mighty 
in  scripture.  Acts  xviii.  24-26  —  Many  other  quo- 
tations might  be  made,  to  show  that  women  did  actu- 
ally speak  in  public,  in  the  days  of  the  primitive 
church.  But  enough  we  think  has  already  been 
cited  ;  therefore  I  will  desist. 

It  was  woman  that  preached  Christ  to  the  Samari- 
tans, after  she  had  learned  of  him,  at  Jacob's  well !  — 
It  was  woman  that  first  preached  a  risen  Savior  ! 
and  shame  on  that  man,  who  will  take  advantage  of 
the  apostle's  meaning,  in  the  fourteenth  of  Corin- 
thians, by  construing  it  into  something  he  never  in- 
tended ;  in  order  to  make  her  condition  still  more 
degraded. 

A.  H.  Davis. 
Boston,  .^/?n/ 28,  J  843. 


MEMOm. 


CHAPTER  I. 

YOUTH. 

"  We  spend 
A  ten  years'  breath, 
Before  we  apprehend, 
What  'lis  to  live  or  fear  a  death." 

Youth,  in  many  respects,  is  the  happiest 
period  of  life.  It  is  then,  that  the  mind,  un- 
burdened with  care,  is  left  free  to  rove  ;  and 
like  the  bee  to  pluck  her  sweets  from  every 
flower.  But  as  we  advance  onward  up  life's 
steep  declivity,  ere  we  are  aware,  we  are 
immersed  in  the  busy  scenes  of  the  world, 
and  we  can  hardly  tell  why  we  live,  or  what 
is  to  be  the  ultimate  object  of  our  existence. 
But  one  thing  is  certain,  we  do  not  exist  in 
vain,  if  we  fulfil  the  design  of  our  creation ; 


si) 


MEMOIR. 


EARLY      HISTORY. 


21 


mi 
'SI 


which  is,  to  spend  the  passing  time  in  such  a 
manner,  as  not  only  to  benefit  the  world  by 
our  having  lived  in  it ;  but  also  to  prepare 
for  another,  and  a  better.  But  how  many 
there  are,  who  have  spent  not  only  ten  years, 
but  a  whole  life  —  three  score  and  ten  ;  and 
died,  as  the  fool  dieth,  without  knowing  why 
they  have  lived,  or  what  good  they  have  ac- 
complished. And  on  the  other  hand,  how 
many,  who  have  been  truly  useful  in  society, 
have  died  comparatively  in  obscurity.  And 
hence  it  should  be  the  object  of  the  memori- 
alist, to  seek  out  such,  that  their  virtues,  and 
their  names  may  be  perpetuated  among  the 
living,  for  the  benefit  of  coming  generations. 

Salome  Lincoln,  ^  — the  daughter  of  Am- 
brose and  Susanna  Lincoln,  was  born  at  Rayn- 
ham,  Mass.  in  Bristol  County,  September  13, 
1807.  She  was  the  eldest  of  six  children  ; 
only  two  of  which  are  now  living.  Her 
father's  residence,  where  she  was  born,  is 
situated  in  the  edge  of  Raynham,  about  five 
miles  north  of  Taunton  Green. 

Her  father  was  born  in  Taunton  in  1784. 

*  We  have  thought  proper  to  use  her  maiden  name  until 
the  time  when  we  shall  speak  of  her  marriage  ;  as  many  of 
the  readers  know  her  only  by  that. 


Her  mother,  Susanna  Weston,  was  born  in 
Middleborough,  Mass.,  in  the  year  1782. — 
They  are  both  professors  of  religion  :  Her 
father  having  made  a  public  profession,  and 
united  with  the  Christian  Baptist  Church  in 
ISOG  ;  and  her  mother,  in  1805  united  with 
the  Calvinist  Baptist  Church  at  Taunton.  She 
afterwards  took  up  her  connection,  and  united 
with  the  Free  Will  Baptist,  at  Taunton,  where 
she  now  remains. 

Personal  Appearance.     In  describing  the 
person  of  Salome,  I  shall  be  forced  to  con- 
fine myself  to  the  testimony  of  others,  hav- 
ing never   seen   her   myself.     And   the    de- 
scription, will  better  answer  to  her  in  after 
life,  than  in  youth.     Sister  Lincoln  in  after 
fife,  say  those  who  were  acquainted  with  her, 
was  above  the  middle    size.     Her  hair  was 
black  — her   eyes,  dark   and  piercing,    with 
an  expression   of  mildness,  and  her  features 
beamed  with  intelligence.     In  her  dress,  she 
was  plain,  yet  tasty,  and  always  manifested 
an  excellent  judgment  in  selecting  the  colors. 
She  was  not  extravagant ;  but  dressed  in  a 
manner  becoming  her  station.     In   early  life 
however,  before  restrained  by  the  influence 
of  rehgion,  she  was  naturally  inclined  to  gay- 

3 


^^■i 


h 


M  E  M  O  I  K  . 


EARLY     HISTORY. 


23 


ety  ;  but  after  experiencing  a  change  of  heart 
she  overcame  tliose  propensities. 

Her  voice  was  deep  toned  and  heavy,  and 
well  suited  to  a  public  sj)eaker.  She  some- 
times spoke  in  large  houses,  and  even  in  the 
open  air  ;  and  was  distinctly  heard  by  large 
audiences.  "  Her  manner  of  speaking  " — says 
one  who  often  heard  her,  "was  self-collected, 
and  yet  pathetic ;  simple,  yet  deep  in  thought.'* 
When  she  spoke  in  public,  her  feelings  usually 
were  engaged  in  the  subject ;  and  with  a  soul 
yearning  for  the  salvation  of  others,  her  words 
would  sometimes  full  upon  the  ears  of  the 
audience  with  a  power  almost  irresistible ! 
Says  an  individual,  who  was  intimate  with 
Ler ;  **  Such  exhortations  and  prayers,  are 
not  often  heard,  as  jiroceeded  from  her  lips. 
I  shall  never  forget  following  her  in  prayer  : 
She  had  addressed  the  throne  of  grace,  in 
her  peculiarly  solemn  and  impressive  manner, 
when  I  immediately  followed;  but  the  con- 
trast  was  so  great,  that  I  seemed  in  my  own 
estimation,  to  have  dwindled  to  the  size  of  an 
infant."  In  the  pulpit  her  appearance  was 
bold  and  commanding.  She  used  but  few 
jestures,  but  her  manner  was  such  as  to  gain 
the  attention  and  interest  of  those  who  heard. 


Private  Character.  It  is  the  invariable 
testimony  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintance, 
that  Salome  Lincoln  maintained  an  excellent 
character  through  life.  But  being  reserved 
in  her  manners,  especially  among  strangers, 
she  sometimes  drew  forth  the  suspicions,  if  not 
the  enmity  of  those  who  knew  her  not.  This 
trait  of  character  was  natural  to  her  from 
childhood,  and  she  did  not  entirely  over- 
come it.  But  to  those  of  her  familiar  ac- 
quaintance, and  who  had  gained  her  confi- 
dence, she  was  a  faithful  and  tried  friend. 
There  are  several  instances  of  this  kind,  of 
a  marked  character,  which  we  shall  hereafter 
notice. 

Salome  was  naturally  mild  and  amiable  in 
her  temper  —  ready  to  yield  even  her  own 
rights  for  the  sake  of  maintaining  peace. — 
Says  her  mother  :  —  "I  never  knew  her  to 
strike  any  one  of  her  playmates,  except  in 
one  instance,  and  then  she  did  not  seem  to  be 
in  anger.  "  She  was  playing  school,  as  chil- 
dren term  it ;  a  play  for  which  they  seem  to 
be  strikingly  fond,  as  it  gives  them  an  oppor- 
tunity to  assume  authority  —  and  children,  as 
well  as  men,  sometimes  like  to  command, 
and   be    obeyed.     But   it  seems   in  this   in- 


k 


MEMOIR 


EARLY     HISTORY. 


25 


if"  *» 


stance,  the  boy  over  whom  she  usurped  au- 
thority, did  not  prove  a  very  obedient  scholar. 
And  for  his  obstinacy,  she  did,  what  teach- 
ers sometimes  have  to  do,  to  schoLars  of  a 
similar  character. 

Christian  Character.  Sister  Lincoln, 
was  a  devoted  christian  !  She  was  not  satis- 
fied with  an  empty  profession — tliat  wiiich 
satisfies  the  world  !  but  she  sought  to  be  holy 
in  the  sight  of  God.  It  is  of  but  little  impor- 
tance how  the  world  regard  us;  if  our  hearts 
are  riirht ! — In  her  whole  intercourse  with 
society,  her  conduct  evinced  a  purity  of  heart, 
a  sincerity  of  action,  strength  of  faith,  and 
warmth  of  christian  love.  These  remarks 
will  apply  to  the  latter  part  of  her  life  with 
force  — but  to  say  she  sustained  this  charac- 
ter through  every  period,  would  perhaps  be 
saying  more  than  is  strictly  true  ;  as  a  short 
period  passed,  according  to  her  own  relation  ; 
and  as  we  shall  soon  show,  when  she  was  in 
what  is  commonly  termed  a  backslidden  state ; 
but  with  the  exception  of  this,  the  remarks 
will  apply  with  empliasis  to  her  christian  char- 
acter, from  the  time  of  her  conversion,  until 
her  death.  Says  one  who  was  familiar  with 
her  from  childhood,  —  '*  Such  has  been  my 


situation  in  life  as  to  enable  me  to  form  many 
happy  associations,  with  a  large  number  of 
devoted  christians  ;  and  for  a  rigid  adherence 
to  principle  —  aunifiirm  and  consistent  chris- 
tian life,  I  must  pronounce  her  one  of  the 
first !  It  is  not  too  much  I  think,  to  say  that 
none  among  us  stood  higher  in  the  estimation 
of  the  community,  for  talents  and  piety,  than 
Salome.  " 

Religion,  was  her  only  theme.  And  she 
seems  to  have  had  a  longing  desire  to  become 
more  and  more  transformed  into  the  iniao-e 
of  her  Savior.  After  a  careful  examination 
of  a  large  number  of  her  letters,  written  to 
different  individuals,  we  have  not  found  one 
in  which  she  has  not  mentioned  the  subject 
of  religion.  In  one  of  these  she  says  : — 
"  Religion  is  the  one  thing  needful  !— I  do 
not  know  of  anything  in  this  world  I  could 
put  in  the  balance  against  Religion  !  But 
O,  —  I  want  to  be  more  and  more  rooted 
and  grounded  in  the  Lord  ! "  In  another 
letter  she  says,  — '« How  good  this  religion 
is!  Truly  I  receive  an  hundred  fold  in  this 
hfe  ;  and  am  expecting  Life  Eternal  in  the 
world  to  come.  " 

It  was  religion  that  sustained  her  in  her 
3* 


r 


t 


m\\ 


26 


M  E  INT  O  I  R  . 


arduous  labors  for  the  salvation  of  lier  fellow- 
men  !  It  was  religion,  that  supported  her 
through  all  her  trials!  It  comforted  her  in 
sickness  —  It  soothed  her  in  death — And 
she  is  now  enjoying  its  blissful  influence 
amonsT  the  ransomed  millions  in  lieaven  !  — 
O,  blessed  thought !  —  O,  glorious  immortal- 
ity !  — Who  then  would  not  be  a  christian  ? 

Education.  Salome's  advantages  for  ac- 
quiring an  education  were  but  limited,  being 
confined  to  a  common  school.  And  common 
schools  at  the  period  when  she  attended,  did 
not  afford  the  facihties  which  are  now  oftered, 
for  rapid  advancement.  For  the  march  of 
time  has  brought  its  improvements  in  this 
department,  as  well  as  in  others.  This  to 
anxious  parents,  who  are  J,  w  forced  to  send 
their  children  abroad  —  unj^uarded,  save  by 
the  watch-care  of  strangers,  must  be  a  source 
of  satisfaction  ;  as  they  may  look  forward  to 
the  time  as  not  far  distant,  when  they  can 
obtain  an  education  at  home,  sufliicient  for 
all  tlie  business  transactions  of  life. 

Though  Salome's  advantages  for  obtaining 
an  education,  were  limited,  yet  she  did  not 
misspend  her  time.  She  embraced  every  op- 
portunity for  improvement ;  and  by  reading, 


EARLY     HISTORY. 


27 


and  Other  means,  she  had  by  the  time  of  her 
death,  acquired  a  large  store  of  useful  knowl- 
edge; and  gave  an  evidence  to  those  around 
her,  that  her  mind  was  highly  cultivated. 
She  spent  much  time  in  reading  and  med- 
itation. Says  Elder  Johnson,  —  "  Salome 
gathered  books  arou»  ^  her  !  and  the  time 
others  spent  in  gossiping  and  idle  chit  chat, 
she  spent  in  reading  her  Bible,  and  other 
books.  Pursuing  this  course,  she  became 
retiring  in  her  manners,  and  less  social  with 
those  around  her,  unless  it  were  on  religious 
topics,  and  then  very  sparingly,  conversing 
apparently,  only  when  she  hoped  to  get  or 
do   good." 

Early  History.  Except  some  few  facts 
which  have  beer  *athered  from  her  writings, 
and  from  her  friends,  but  little  of  importance 
is  known  of  Salome,  until  she  was  fifteen 
years  of  age.  Her  mind  was  early  led  to  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  to  this  fact  undoubtedly 
she  owes  the  formation  of  the  character  which 
she  sustained  in  after  life. 

"  As  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree  inclines." 
is  a  maxim,  which  ought  to  be  painted  in 
large  capitals,  in  the  sitting  room  of  every 


• 


28 


MEMOIR. 


J. 


EARLY      HISTORY. 


29 


mother.  Children  may  be  taught  virtue,  ag 
readily  as  vice.  Mothers  look  to  your  chil- 
dren !  If  you  neglect  to  teach  them  virtue, 
they  will  certainly  learn  vice.  *  But  to  return  ; 
Salome  was  early  taught  the  existence  of 
God,  and  the  necessity  of  a  preparation  of 
heart,  to  meet  him  in  peace. 

Experience.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  her 
mind  was  called  to  the  subject  of  religion. 
This  was  sometime  in  the  year  1820.  Previ- 
ous to  this,  according  to  her  own  relation, 
she  had  had  many  serious  thoughts,  when  she 
reflected  that  she  must  meet  a  righteous  God 
in  judgment ;  and  there  render  an  account 
for  all  the  deeds  done  in  the  body.  When 
alone,  she  says  —  "I  have  often  wept  bitterly, 
wishing  that  I  was  prepared  for  death. ''  But 
like  many  others  under  like  circumstances, 
she  said  to  the  Holy  Spirit ;  '*  Go  thy  way 
for  this  time,  and  when  I  have  a  more  con- 
venient season  I  will  call  for  thee. " 

From  this  time,  until  1822,  her  mind  seemed 
to  be  wavering,  and  in  doubt.  Sometimes 
we  find  her  earnestly  seeking  for  the  salva- 

*  Jeremy  Taylor  once  said  to  a  mother.  '*  Madam !  be  at 
pains  to  educate  your  son,  or  be  assured  Satan  toill  do  it 
for  you. " 


tion  of  her  soul,  and  at  others,  among  her 
friends  at  Middleborough,  joining  with  her 
young  companions  in  the  vanities  of  the  world, 
afraid  to  acknowledge  her  need  of  a  Savior, 
through  fear  of  their  derision.  She  continued 
in  this  situation  until  she  was  fifteen  years 
of  age,  when  she  boldly  determined  to  for- 
sake all,  and  follow  Christ. 

She  experienced  religion  sometime  in  the 
year  1822.  She  was  then  probably  at  work 
at  Hopewell,  a  factory  village  in  Taunton, 
*  about  one  mile  from  the  Court  House.  It 
was  soon  after  her  return  from  a  visit  to  her 
friends  at  Middleborough,  Mass.  As  the 
relation  of  her  experience  is  interesting,  I 
will  give  it  verbatim  as  recorded  in  her  journal. 
She  says  : — "Iliad  now  returned  home, 
and  determined  that  I  would  seek  the  Lord 
at  the  loss  of  all  thinfrs.  But  the  more  I 
sought,  the  more  I  saw  the  wretchedness  of 
my  situation.  I  attended  on  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel,  but  every  word  was  like  a  thun- 
derbolt to  my  wounded  soul  !  I  felt  that  I 
was  justly  condemned,  and  despaired  of  the 
mercy  of  God.  Once  as  the  preacher  came 
down  from  the  desk,  lie  requested  those  that 
desired  prayers  to  come  forward  to  the  anx- 


30 


MEMOIR. 


ious  seats.  While  he  was  praying,  I  rushed 
from  the  seat  wliere  I  was  sitting,  and  knelt 
with  tliose  who  iiad  already  come  forward. 
I  thought  I  had  now  given  up  my  good  name 
and  come  out  from  the  world  ;  but  still  I 
found  no  relief.  One  day  as  I  retired  to  a 
small  grove  near  the  house,  and  sat  down 
under  a  large  tree  to  meditate  upon  my  lost 
condition  without  Christ ;  it  seemed  to  me 
as  though  the  heavens  were  brass,  and  the 
earth  was  iron  under  my  feet.  O  !  thought 
I  —  I  have  lived  but  a  few  years  !  but  I  have 
become  a  burden  to  myself!  I  felt  that  I  had 
sinned  away  the  day  of  grace,  and  driven 
the  heavenly  messenger  from  my  breast ! — 
While  I  sat  thus  meditating ;  a  thought  like 
this,  came  to  my  mind.  Has  not  Christ  died 
for  the  yery  worst  of  sinners  ?  I  cannot  be 
worse  than  the  worst  —  perhaps  there  is  yet 
mercy  for  me  !  I  will  cast  myself  upon  him  ; 
and  if  I  die,  I  will  die  pleading  —  I  then 
threw  myself  upon  my  knees,  and  began  to 
cry:  —  O,  Jesus — If  thou  wilt,  thou  canst 
make  me  clean  !  While  praying,  it  seemed 
as  though  the  mountains  had  rolled  away, 
and  I  heard  these  words :  —  "I  will,  be  thou 
clean  !  "  My  fears  subsided.     The  throbbings 


EARLY     HISTORY. 


31 


of  my  bosom  ceased ;  and  a  heavenly  calm 
ensued.  O,  thought  I,  is  it  possible,  I  have 
found  favor  with  God?  I  then  arose  and 
went  towards  the  house  ;  but  Satan  soon  sug- 
gested to  my  mind,  that  I  had  only  lost  my 
conviction,  and  mistaken  it  for  conversion. 
And  now  my  case  if  possible,  was  even  worse 
than  before.  Again  I  fell  upon  my  knees, 
and  besought  the  Lord,  that  if  I  had  not 
found  forgiveness,  to  give  me  an  evidence  ; 
and  then  these  words   were  sweetly  applied 

to  my  mind  :  — 

"  Be  not  failhlessj  but  believing. " 

O,  what  glory  filled  my  soul  at  that  mo- 
ment !  I  arose,  and  every  thing  looked  new 
around  me  !  Every  thing  seemed  to  praise 
the  Lord  !  and  I  longed  to  tell  the  whole 
world,  what  a  dear  Savior  I  had  found.  I 
knew  then,  that  he  had  taken  my  feet  from 
the  miry  clay  ;  and  had  set  them  upon  the 
Rock,  even  the  Rock  Christ  Jesus  !  " 

Baptism.  April  8, 1823,  Salome  with  nine 
others  went  forward  in  the  ordinance  of  bap- 
tism. The  rite  was  administered  by  Elder 
Ruben  Allen,  a  Freewill  Baptist  minister 
then  laborins:  with  the  church  at  Taunton. 

In  speaking  of  the  ordinance  she  says : — 


O/w 


MEMOIR. 


EARLY     HISTORY. 


33 


♦*It  was  a  happy  day  to  me.  The  banks 
were  thronged  with  a  large  concourse  of 
people,  who  had  assembled  to  witness  the 
administration.  But  my  soul  was  so  filled 
with  the  love  of  God,  that  I  did  not  fear  them. 
I  could  say  in  the  language  of  the  Poet : — 

"  Blest  be  my  God  that  I  was  born, 

To  hear  the  Gospel  sound; 
That  I  was  born,  to  be  baptized, 

When  Gospel  truths  abound. " 

Unites  with  the  Church.  In  the  month 
of  July  following  her  baptism,  she  was  re- 
ceived, and  united  with  the  F.  W.  Baptist 
Church  at  Raynham.  This  church  was  a 
branch  of  the  church  at  Taunton,  and  was 
under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Elder  H.  N. 
Loring. 

Though  Salome  gained  so  good  an  evidence 
of  her  acceptance  with  God,  and  as  confident 
as  others  might  have  been  that  she  would 
have  remained  steadfast ;  yet  we  are  obliged 
to  record  a  short  period  of  her  life,  after  her 
conversion,  when  she  was  without  the  enjoy- 
ment of  religion.  In  speaking  of  it  herself, 
she  says  — **  The  church  began  to  decline, 
and  I  with  the  rest.  " 


She  remained  in  a  backslidden  state  until 
sometime  in  the  year  1825 ;  when  she  was 
again  reclaimed  and  brought  back  to  her  first 
love.  This  was  during  a  powerful  revival  of 
religion  in  Raynham  and  the  vicinity  where 
she  was  then  laboring. 

The  cause  of  her  backsliding,  she  attributes 
to  a  neglect  of  duty.  From  the  time  of  her 
conversion,  it  was  deeply  impressed  upon  her 
mind,  that  God  had  something  for  her  to  do 
as  a  public  laborer  in  his  vineyard. 

A  neglect  of  duty,  is  the  usual  cause  of  all 
backsliding.  When  the  young  convert  begins 
to  trust  in  his  own  strength,  and  like  Peter, 
to  walk  the  untrodden  deep,  he  is  sure  to  sink. 
But  as  long  as  he  will  draw  nigh  unto  God, 
God  will  draw  nigh  unto  him.  And  as  long 
as  he  will  walk  in  the  paths  God  has  marked 
out,  his  soul  will  prosper. 


1*1 


"^s 


f 


4 


34 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  CALL  TO  PREACH. 

«  Woe  is  unto  me  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel.  ''^Paul, 

"  Go  then  earthly  fame  and  treasure  — 

Come  disaster,  scorn  and  pain, 

In  THY  service,  pain  is  pleasure, 

With  THY  favor  loss  is  gain  !  " 

««  A  CALL  to  preach  !  "  says  the  reader  — 
What!  a  WOMAN  called  to  preach  ?  — Truly 
this  is  something  new  ! 

But  stop  my  dear  Sir!  — let  us  reason  for 
a  moment.     What  is  a  call  to  preach  ? 

The  strongest  evidence  I  can  name,  that 
an  individual  is  called  to  preach  the  gospel, 
is,  a  deep  conviction  that  it  is  his  duty  —this 
conviction  being  from  God.  The  apostle 
explains  the  nature  of  this  call,  when  he 
gays:  — "For  though  I  preach  the  gospel, 
I  have  nothing  to  glory  of,  for  necessity  is 
laid  upon  me;  yea,  woe  is  u7ito  we,  if  I 
preach  not  the  gospel.  "—1  Cor.  ix.  16. 

This  is  one  of  the  evidences,  but  there  are 
others,  and  I  will  proceed  to  name  them. 


CALLED     TO     PREACH. 


35 


* 


1.  An  individual  called  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel, will  feel  to  weep  over  sin,  in  high,  as 
well  as  low  places ;  and  to  do  all  he  or  she 
can,  to  promote  the  salvation  of  others. 

2.  *'  A  call  to  preach,  requires  of  the  indi- 
vidual, a  holy,  blameless  life,  and  abilities 
suited  to  the  work  ;  such  as  knowledge, 
aptness  to  teach,  courage,  &c. — and  an  op- 
portunity afforded  in  providence  to  be  use- 
ful." * 

These  are  some  of  the  most  prominent 
points,  which  we  consider  constitute  a  call  to 
preach.  Now  if  a  woman  has  all  these  qual- 
ifications ;  and  there  is  no  prohibition  in  the 
word  of  God,  f  may  she  not  strictly  be  said 
to  have  a  call  from  God  to  preach  the  gospel  ] 

The  greatest  difficulty  at  the  present  day, 
is,  that  too  many  preachers,  have  no  higher 
call  than  of  men.  If  more  were  called  of 
God,  and  less  of  men,  it  would  be  better  for 
the  church,  and  better  for  the  world. 

Whether  Sister  Lincoln  had  the  qualifica- 
tions which  Ihave  named,  or  not,  I  leave  for 
the  reader  to  judge,  after  he  shall  have  read 
her  convictions,  and  the  testimony  of  others. 

*  Prof.  Knowles'  Premium  Tract, 
t  See  Introduction,  Page  14. 


36 


M  E  M  O  I  R  . 


CALLED     TO     PREACH. 


37 


One  thing,  however,  is  certain,  if  she  erred, 
she  erred  conscientiously. 

It  was  early  evident  to  the  friends  of  Salome, 
from  her  striking  gift  in  exhortation,  that  she 
was  destined  to  fill  a  more  conspicuous  place 
in  the  church,  and  in  society.  And  although 
her  mind  was  strongly  exercised  on  this  suh- 
ject,  yet  it  was  a  long  time  before  she  yielded 
to  a  sense  of  duty,  and  took  up  her  cross. 

Her  trials  of  mind,  in  relation  to  preach- 
ing, as  we  may  naturally  suppose,  were  severe. 
Situated  as  she  was  in  a  community,  where 
female  preachers  were  but  little  known  :  — 
and  where  the  tide  of  popular  favor  was 
turned  against  them— with  but  limited  means, 
without  many  friends  to  encourage  her  on,  — 
while  the  spirit  of  God,  and  the  convictions 
of  conscience,  said,  go,  go  !  —and  on  the  other 
hand,  Satan,  and  the  world,  cried  Woinan, — 
WOMAN  ! — it  is  no  wonder,  that  at  the  mid- 
night hour,  while  she  wept  and  prayed  till 
her  pillow  was  wet  with  tears;  *  she  should 
sometimes  exclaim,  "  Lord  I  pray  thee,  have 
me  excused !  " 

*  It  is  related  by  her  friends,  that  so  great  was  her  anxiety 
of  mind  on  the  subject  of  preaching,  that  she  would  often 
weep  hours,  after  she  had  retired. 


m 


i    . 


According  to  her  own  relation,  her  mind 
was  first  exercised  on  the  subject  of  preach- 
ing, about  the  year  1S23,  soon  after  she 
united  with  the  church.  In  a  letter  addressed 
to  a  friend,  she  says  ;  —  "I  was  employed  iu 
the  weaving-room  at  Taunton.  —  My  mind 
had  often  been  exercised,  in  relation  to  enter- 
ing the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  as  a  public  labor- 
er. But,  O,  my  soul  shrunk  from  the  work  ! 
I  thought  I. could  never  move  forward;  and 
soon  lost  the  enjoyment  of  religion.  " 

In  another  letter  she  says  :  —  "I  felt  that 
it  was  a  great  undertaking;  and  it  was  with 
a  trembling  hand,  that  I  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion to  give  up  all,  and  enter  the  field.  But 
on  making  up  my  mind,  I  felt  the  approbation 
of  heaven,  and  since  then,  I  have  been  more 
and  more  convinced,  that  these  convictions 
were  from  the  Lord  !  " 

In  remarking  to  a  friend,  she  said,  that  it 
did  not  seem  right  to  her,  for  a  woman  to 
speak  in  public;  and  on  account  of  this, 
hke  Jonah,  she  had  fled  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  to  get  rid  of  duty.  This  im- 
pression was  undoubtedly  founded  on  the 
beUef  of  others.  But  one  eminent  writer, 
(Dr.  Watts,)  remarks,  that  truth  is  to  be  re- 
4» 


38 


MEMOIR. 


CALLED     TO     PREACH. 


39 


#111 


tl 


ceived,  come  from  what  source  it  may.  And 
the  truth  of  God  is  no  less  precious,  because 
it  is  spoken  by  woman  ;  tliough  the  world 
may  claim  dominion  over  her,  and  attempt  to 
seal  her  lips  in  perpetual  silence. 

Elder  Lorenzo  Johnson  in  speaking  of  her 
call  to  preach,  in  a  letter  written  to  her  hus- 
band after  her  death,  says  :  — 

''Although  like  most  of  my  brethren,  I  felt 
a  strong  prejudice  against  female  preachers, 
as  they  are  termed  ;  and  although  they  were 
not  licensed  as  such  by  our  conference  ;  yet 
my  own  conviction,  produced  by  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  her  exercises  of  mind,  was, 
that  if  I,  or  any  other  person  with  whom  I 
was  acquainted,  was  called  of  God  to  preach. 
Sister  Salome  had  as  great  a  call,  as  my- 
self. " 

So  severely  was  Sister  Lincoln's  mind  ex- 
ercised on  this  subject ;  that  she  was  heard 
to  remark,  that  sometimes  she  had  almost 
thought,  she  should  be  willing  to  be  lost  her- 
self, if  she  could  be  released  from  preaching. 
But  wlrcn  she  thought  of  the  souls  of  others  — 
sinking  down  to  hell,  without  Christ,  then 
she  was  constrained  to  preach. 

In  a  letter  written  to   Miss  Liscom,  she 


vF        IT         ^         TT        T^ 


says  —  '^  *  ?p  *  *  ttj  i,ave  given  up  all  for 
Christ !  —  you  know  not  the  sacrifice  1  make 
in  leaving  my  dear  friends.  But  I  wish  to 
submit  to  what  seems  to  be  duty.  I  feel  that 
I  have  sold  all,  for  the  cause  in  which  1  have 
engaged.  I  have  given  up  earthly  prospects  ; 
I  have  taken  the  parting  hand  of  friends  ;  — 
and  am  now  going  to  seek  a  bride  for  my 
master.     In  another  letter  she  says  — 

*****"!  shall  soon  get  through  with 
all  my  trials ;  and  if  faithful,  it  will  be  said 
to  me,  child !  your  father  calls,  come 
liome !  and  then  I  shall  see,  that  I  have  not 
had  one  trial  too  many  ;  but  that  they  have 
worked  out  for  me,  a  far  more,  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory." 

The  strongest  evidence,  we  can  have,  after 
all,  that  Sister  Lincoln  was  called  of  God  as 
a  public  laborer,  is,  the  success  which  attended 
her  preaching ;  and  the  deep  interest  which 
she  ever  feh  for  the  salvation  of  others  ; 
together  with  the  untiring  zeal  which  she 
manifested  in  all  the  varied,  and  sometimes 
trying  circumstances,  through  which  she  was 
called  to  pass.  After  she  broke  loose  from 
the  world,  she  was  unceasing  in  her  efforts. 
Some  considerable  portion  of  the  time,  she 


40 


MEMOIR. 


CALLED     TO     PREACH. 


41 


ii 


used  to  preach,  on  an  average  from  three  to 
four  discourses  a  week,  besides  attending: 
other  meetings.  And  these  were  made  the 
instrument  in  the  conversion  of  a  large  num- 
ber  of  different  individuals. 

Salome  not  only  had  the  witness  of  God, 
and  the  approval  of  her  own  conscience,  as 
an  evidence  of  her  call ;  bul  the  hearty  co- 
operation, of  several  distinguished  brethren 
in  the  ministry.  Her  first  recommendation  she 
received  from  Elder  Johnson,  then  pastor  of 
the  Reformed  Methodist  church  at  Wareham, 
of  which  she  was  a  member.  The  folio vvinff 
is  a  copy  :  — 

Wareham,  June  2,  1832. 

"  To  whom  it  may  concern : — This  certifies 
that  having  known  Sister  Salome  Lincoln 
for  years,  I  am  prepared  to  assert,  that  she 
sustains  an  unblemished  christian  character. 
Among  her  friends  and  neighbors  she  is  held 
in  high  esteem.  Having  also  been  acquainted 
with  the  trials  of  her  mind,  in  relation  to  her 
laboring  publicly,  I  am  prepared  to  say,  she 
evinces  a  pure  sincerity  with  regard  to  her 
duty.  And  in  relation  to  her  labors  among 
the  Reformed  Methodist,  they  have  been  con- 
ducted with  profit,  and  ability.  "*»**» 

Lorenzo  D.  Johnson. 


Sister  Lincoln,  at  the  time  she  received 
the  above,  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Methodist,  a  denomination  of  respectable 
christians.  She  took  a  letter  from  the  Free 
Will  Baptists,  sometime  in  the  year  1826 : 
and  joined  the  class  at  Taunton. 

About  the  same  time,  that  slie  received 
the  recommendation  from  Br.  Johnson,  she 
also  received  another  from  Br.  Brett  ;  then 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Reformed  Methodist 
church.     The  following  is  a  copy  :  — 

"  To  whom  it  may  concern : — This  certi- 
fies, that  Sister  Salome  Lincoln,  is  a  person 
of  unexceptionable  character ;  both  moral 
and  religious,  in  her  own  town,  church,  and 
vicinity  ;  and  is  universally  approbated  as  a 
laborer  in  the  cause  of  God." 

Pliny  Brett. 

Success  as  a  Preacher.  As  a  preacher, 
Sister  Lincoln  was  very  successful.  She 
seldom  preached  a  discourse  without  eftect. 
The  precise  number  awakened  under  her 
labors  cannot  be  accurately  ascertained.  The 
devoted  christian  knows  but  little  in  this  life, 
of  the  amount  of  good  he  may  have  accom- 
])lished.  It  remains  to  be  revealed  in  the 
world    of  spirits  !     But  one  thins:  is  certain, 


43 


MEMOIR. 


U  E  R     FIRST     S  E  II  iM  O  N  . 


43 


\ 


many  were  awakened  and  hopefully  con- 
verted under  her  labors:  and  thoujih  she 
received  no  official  credentials  from  any  body 
of  christians,  yet  most  of  the  evanirelical 
denominations,  were  i^lad  to  receive  her  help. 
The  followinfl^  recommendation  which  she 
received  from  Elder  Norris,  —  now  the  Editor 
of  the  Olive  Branch,  *  in  1834,  will  serve  to 
illustrate  the  manner  in  which  her  labors 
were  regarded. 

Boston,  August,  13,  1834. 
"  To  whom  it  may  concern:  —  As  Miss 
Salome  Lincoln,  is  about  to  visit  the  State 
of  Maine,  and  is  a  stranger  there  ;  I  would 
state,  that  she  is  well  known  to  the  Christian 
Public,  in  this  section  of  country.  She  sus- 
tains a  good  moral  character,  and  her  con- 
nections are  among  some  of  the  first  families 
in  this  city,  and  vicinity.  She  is  also  highly 
respected,  as  an  exemplary  christian.  She 
is  approved,  by  a  respectable,  and  in  this 
State  numerous  class  of  christians,  to  help 
in  the  gospel  ministry — Many  hundreds  in 
this  city,  and  in  the  neighboring  towns  have 

*  A  Paper  published  in  Boston,  Mass. 


II  ^ 


listened  to  her  pulpit  instructions,  with  ap- 
parent pleasure  and  profit.  " 

Thomas  F.  Noriiis, 
Pastor  of  the  Reformed  Methodist  Church,  Loston, 

Preached  her  first  Sermon.  Sister  Lin- 
coln commenced  her  public  labors  in  the 
vicinity  of  her  father's,  by  taking  part  in 
prayer  and  conference  meetings.  Her  first 
sermon  was  preached  October  17th,  1827  — 
The  meeting  was  held  about  two  miles  from 
her  father's  residence.  She  had  just  returned 
from  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  held  at  Rochester, 
Mass.;  and  in  speaking  of  the  meeting  she  says, 

'*  I  started  expecting  to  hear  Elder  Brett 
preach.  But  my  mind  was  uncommonly 
burdened  ;  and  I  felt  that  I  should  have  some- 
thing to  do.  As  I  went  up  to  the  door,  a 
little  girl  met  me,  and  informed  me  that  the 
preacher  had  not  come.  The  thought  was 
immediately  suggested  —  he  will  not  come  ! 
I  felt  almost  sure  of  it.  I  went  into  the  house, 
and  sat  down  in  .the  kitchen,  while  the  people 
were  assembling  in  another  room.  A  large 
number  of  young  persons  were  present,  and 
not  one  among  them  that  had  ever  professed 
religion.  I  sat  a  few  moments  trembhng 
under  the  cross  :  and  then  fell  upon  my  knees 


II 


'fl 


44 


MEMOIR. 


and  commenced  praying.  While  in  prayer, 
the  power  of  God  was  manifested  —  and  the 
fear  of  man  taken  away.  I  then  arose  and 
began  to  speak.  The  promise  of  the  Lord 
was  verified  —  *'  Open  thy  mouth  wide,  and 
I  will  fill  it."— While  I  spoke  the  eyes  of 
the  youth  were  fixed  upon  me,  and  many 
were  aflfected  even  to  tears. 

After  I  sat  down,  one  aged  woman  arose 
and  spoke  a  few  words  of  exhortation,  set- 
ting forth  the  importance  of  attending  to  the 
duties  of  religion  while  in  youth.  But  not 
feeling  my  mind  freed,  I  arose  again,  and 
spoke  a  few  words,  and  then  dismissed  the 
meeting. 

I  expected  that  much  would  be  said  in  re- 
lation to  this  meeting ;  but  I  felt  that  the  Lord 
approbated  me.  And  if  the  Lord  is  for  me^ 
who  can  be  against  me.  " 

Style  of  Preaching.  Sister  Lincoln's 
style  of  preaching,  by  those  who  have  heard 
her,  is  said  to  have  been  good.  In  private, 
as  we  have  already  noticed,  she  was  natur- 
ally reserved  and  retiring  in  her  manners. 
But  in  the  pulpit,  she  was  bold  and  attracting; 
and  as  she  began  to  warm  up  in  the  spirit  of 
her  discourse,  this  reserve  was  entirely  gone> 


TALENTSASA     PREACHER 


45 


In  the  year  1839,  after  her  marriage,  she 
went  with  her  husband  to  the  town  of  New- 
port, R.  L  *  — and  preached  in  one  of  the 
largest  meeting-houses  in  that  place.  Says 
Elder  Mc  Kenzie,  who  was  then  pastor  of 
the  church  —  "In  reference  to  her  preach- 
ing at  Newport,  it  was  thought  she  would 
class  with  any  female  preacher,  who  had 
ever  been  there.  In  her  discourse,  there  was 
no  artificial  arrangement  ;  yet  clearness  of 
reasoning  —  the  argument  sound  —  and  the 
motives  warm,  and  from  the  heart.  The 
seats  were  all  filled,  and  many  were  forced 
to  stand.  " 

She  usually  preached  without  notes,  and 
sometimes  with  but  little  premeditation.  On 
another  occasion  a  little  girl  who  was  accus- 
tomed to  hear  sermons  read,  went  to  hear 
her.  After  meeting,  she  was  asked  how  she 
liked.  She  replied,  "  It  was  the  ^«/ 5«r7?ww 
I  ever  heard  !  on  being  asked  why,  she  said, 
*'  because  the  preacher  talked  out  of  her  mouth.'' 

Talents  as  a  Preacher.  For  talents  as 
a  preacher.  Sister  Lincoln  ranked  above 
mediocrity,  whether  compared  with  male  or 

"^  Newport,  a  town  on  the  Island  of  Rhode  Island. 


46 


MEMOIR 


n 


female.     This    we   conclude  from    the  fact, 
that  she  always  sustained   herself  in  that  ca- 
pacity, wherever  she   went ;  and    frequently 
she   preached  to   very  large  congregations  ; 
and  from  the  testimony  of  individuals  who 
are  themselves  men   of  judgment  and  taste. 
Says  Eld.  Joseph  Whittemore,  the  pastor  of 
the  F.  W.  Baptist  chur.-.h  at  Tiverton,  R.  I.  * 
*'  She  was  the  best  hand  in  conference  meet- 
inos,  I  ever  was  acquainted  with.     I  heard 
her    preach  several    times.     Her   discourses 
were  talented,  and  delivered  with  spirit.  "  — 
Eld.  Johnson's  testimony  in  relation  to  a  dis- 
course preached  at  a  protracted  meeting  in 
Sandwich,  is  to  the  point.     It  was  given  in  a 
letter,  written  to  her  husband  after  her  death. 
Says  he  :  — 

"Among  the  many  scenes  where  I  was  a 
co-laborer  and  witness,  in  the  early  life  of 
your  lamented  companion,  there  is  one, 
which  I  presume,  I,  and  many  others,  will 
never  forget. 

We  had  a  protracted  meeting  in  a  grove, 
in  the  town  of  Sandwich,  Mass.  ;  where  we 
spread  our  tents  like  a  camp  meeting,  and 
passed  day  and  night  on  the  ground. 

*  Tiverton  is  a  town  in  the  east  part  of  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island.    It  was  formerly  called  Pocassett. 


TALENTS    AS    A    PREACHER.  47 

On  the  last  day  of  the  meeting,  it  was  pro- 
posed to  have  a  sermon  at  midnight. — The 
lot  fell  upon  Sister  Salome  to  preach,  and 
she  consented.  The  bright  moonlight,  falling 
upon  the  thick  foliai^c,  which  formed  a  can- 
opy over  our  heads  —produced  a  kind  of  dim 
religions  light,  tlirongh  all  the  arena  where 
we  were  assembled  !—  It  being  thus  pleasant 
and  inviting— -a  large  audience  collected.— 
At  the  appointed  time.  Sister  Salome  accom- 
pained  by  one  or  two  female  friends,  took  the 
stand,  and  announced  her  text  — 

*'  And  at  Midnight  there  was  a  cry  made  ; 
Behold  the  Bridegroom  cometh  ;  go  ye  out 
to  meet  him  !  —  Matt.  xxv.  G. 

As  she  entered  into  the  subject,  her  heart 
seemed  to  grow  warm,  her  fiiith  to  increase— 
and    her    heavy    voice    echoed    through    the 

moonlight  grove  with    rapture  !  ***** 

Probably  she  never  spoke  with  greater  power, 
or  more  eftect !  —  The  stillness  of  midnight, 
contrasted  with  the  voice  of  warning  to  the 
impenitent  ! 

This  sermon,  I  afterwards  learned,  was 
made  the  power  of  God,  unto  the  salvation 

of  several  immortal  souls One   young  man 

who    was   awakened,  gave   himself  no   rest, 


49 


ill 


48 


MEMOIR. 


until  he  found  peace  in  believing:.  He  after- 
wards went  to  sea,  where  he  made  his  grave 
with  the  monsters  of  the  deep.  —  But  he  left 
an  evidence  behind,  that,  though  his  body 
mi'^ht  be  roUing  in  the  deep  blue  ocean,  his 
soul  was  at  rest  with  God  !  " 


CHAPTER  HI. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

"  Women  are  not  for  rule  designed, 
Nor  yet  for  blind  submission. " 

Having  in  the  two  former  chapters  noticed 
her  conversion,  and  some  of  the  reasons 
why  she  supposed  God  had  called  her  to 
preach  his  everlasting  gospel,  the  reader  will 
pardon  me,  if  I  now  call  his  attention  back  to 
the  period  where  we  closed  the  first  chapter. 

At  the  time  of  her  conversion  in  1822,  she 
was  at  work  in  the  weaving  room  in  the 
factory  at  Hopewell,  Taunton,  for  the  Rich- 
mond Company.  When  she  commenced  her 
labors  in  the  factory  we  are  unable  to  say ; 
but  it  was  probably  about  the  year  1821. 
And  here  I  would  remark,  that  combined 
with  piety  and  talent,  Salome  was  industri- 
ous. After  she  began  to  travel  and  preach  ; 
as  she  received  but  little  from  others,  she  was 
accustomed  to  work  with  her  hands  to  clothe 
herself;  and  then  go  out  on  her  missions  of 
5* 


60 


MEMOIR 


AT    WORK    IN    THE     FACTORY. 


51 


it 


love,  till  it  was  expended  ;  being  too  sensitive 
to  say  anything  in  relation  to  her  circumstan- 
ces, and  the  church  too  covetous  to  inquire.  * 
Once  she  was  over  one  hundred  miles  from 
home,  without  one  cent  of  money  ;  but  God, 
who  from  time  immemorial  has  supplied  the 
wants  of  his  children,  [)rovided  friends  for  her, 
and  thus  she  was  enabled  to  return.     The 
Psalmist  says  ; — "  I  have  never  seen  the  righ- 
teous forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread." 
This  is  a  consoling  thought  to  the  poor  min- 
ister, who  has  sacrificed  all  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  and  embarked  on  the  stormy  sea  — 
life's  troubled  ocean,   perplexed   with    cares 
at  home    and  abroad — shunned  by  worldly 
wisdom,    frowned   upon    by  the    ungodly  — 
and  destined  to  meet  with  new  difficulties  at 
every  corner.     He  that  embarks  in  this  en- 
terprise, stimulated  by  hopes  of  gain,  or  self 
emolument,  will  be  very  liable  to  make  ship- 
wreck of  faith  before  he  has  sailed  far  !    The 
faithful  minister  receives  not  his  reward  here, 
but  in  heaven. 

Salome  continued  to  work  in  the  factory 

*  This  remark  wij'l  not  apply  to  every  place  —  as  there 
were  honorable  exceptions— and  the  Lord  will  reward  every 
one  according  to  their  deeds. 


at  Hopewell,  until  the  first  of  May,  1829, 
when  an  unforeseen  circumstance  occurred 
which  deprived  her  of  work.  The  circum- 
stance is  briefly  this  : 

For  some  cause,  the  corporation  reduced 
the  wages  in  the  weaving  department,  where 
Salome  was  then  at  work.  The  ffirls  indiff- 
nant  at  this,  bound  themselves  under  an  obli- 
gation, not  to  go  back  into  the  mill,  until  the 
former  prices  were  restored  ;  and  this  not 
being  granted,  they  formed  themselves  into  a 
procession,  and  marched  through  the  streets, 
to  the  green  in  front  of  the  Court  house. 
The  procession  started  from  Hopewell,  about 
the  middle  of  the  forenoon.  They  were 
in  uniform,  —  having  on  black  silk  dresses, 
with  red  shawls,  and  green  calashes.  They 
then  went  into  a  hall  near  the  common,  in 
order  to  listen  to  an  address.  Salome  was 
selected  as  the  orator  of  the  day.  She  then 
took  the  stand,  and  in  her  own  peculiar  style, 
eloquently  addressed  them  at  considerable 
length,  on  the  subject  of  their  wrongs  ;  after 
which  they  quietly  returned  to  their  homes. 

For  one  inducement,  and  another,  nearly 
all  who  had  turned  out  at  this  time,  re- 
turned into  the  factory   again,  and  resumed 


9V-       '         .i 


52 


MEMOIR 


AT    WORK    IN    THE    FACTORY. 


53 


their  work.     But  not  so  with  Salome!  —She 
manfully   refused  to  violate   her  word  ;  but 
chose  rather,  to  leave  business  —  and  break 
up  all   the  social   and  religious   ties  she   had 
formed  ;  than   to  deviate  from  the  paths  of 
rectitude.     After  this  she   never  worked   in 
the  factory    again  at    Taunton ;  but   sought 
employment  elsewhere,  and   was  successful. 
After  leaving  the  foctory  at  Hopewell,  she 
returned  home,  where   she  remained    about 
two  weeks,  and  then  went  to  Easton,  Mass. 
to  work  in  the  mill  for  iMr.  Barzilla  Dean.  * 
She  worked  for  him  at  two  different  periods. 
First  from  May  19th,  1829,  to  May  29,  1830 ; 
when  she  left  for  a  short  season,  but  returned 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  and    continued 
to  work  for  him  until  February  4,  1831. 

While  living  at  Easton,  she  boarded  with 
her  employer.  Says  Mr.  Dean,  — "When 
in  my  family,  she  lived  a  devoted  christian 
life  :  All  her  leisure  moments,  she  spent  in 
reading  the  Bible.  "  Says  another  individ- 
ual ;  a  member  of  the  same  family  :  —  '*  She 
always   used   to   kneel   before   retiring.      It 

*  Mr.  Dean's  factory  is  located  in  Easton,  about  one  mile 
from  the  Meeting-house,  and  ten  miles  north  of  Taunton 
Green. 


looked  strange  to  me  then  ;  but  it  made  no 
difference  if  all  the  girls  were  present ;  and 
among  her  associates  in  the  mill,  there  were 
some,  who  were  very  rude  ;  but  she  would 
frecpiently  check  them.  " 

While  at  Easton,  she  attended  meeting 
with  the  Episcopal  Methodist,  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  their  conferences,  where 
her  talents  shone  with  peculiar  lustre.  Says 
Eld.  Benton,  who  was  then  preaching  there, 
**  She  possessed  an  uncommon  mind  for  one 
of  her  sex.  She  was  good  in  Scripture,  and 
was  endowed  with  talents,  which,  when  con- 
secrated to  the  service  of  God,  were  capable 
of  making  her  extensively  useful.  " 

In  the  month  of  June  1829,  Salome  was 
reduced  very  low  with  a  fever.  She  was  con- 
fined to  her  bed,  at  her  father's  in  Raynham, 
for  upwards  of  three  weeks  ;  but  according 
to  her  own  relation  her  mind  was  stayed  on 
God.  —  July  5th,  although  extremely  weak, 
she  was  able  to  attend  a  Quarterly  meet- 
ing at  Rehoboth,  and  she  gradually  regained 
her  strength,  and  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
was  soon  able  to  resume  her  labor. 

Several  years  elapsed  from  the  time  Sister 
Lincoln  preached  her  first  sermon  in  1827, 


♦ 

54 


MEMOIR 


until  she  gave    herself  wholly  to  the  work  ; 
yet  she  was  not  idle,    as  she  improved   the 
many  opportunities  that  oftered  of  doing  good. 
During  this  period,  she  struggled  on  between 
hope  and  despair;  and  sometimes  she  would 
leave  the  mill  for  a  short  season,   and  go  out 
to  attend  meetings,  and  on  these  occasions 
her  soul  would  find    matter  for   encourage- 
ment, and  duty  would  seem  clear!     Had  she 
yielded  to    these    impressions  ;    undouhtedly 
she  would  have  enjoyed  more  of  the  presence 
of  God  ;  but  individuals  are  not  nsually  wil- 
ling  to  conform  immediately  to  the  convic- 
tions of  duty,  especially  when  it  is  crossing, 
and  for  this  neglect  God  frequently  severely 
chastises  them. 

In  April  of  18-29  — Salome  again  attempted 
to  preach.  Whether  she  had  preached  pre- 
vious to  this,  since  the  time  of  her  first  dis- 
course, we  have  no  notice  ;  but  probably  she 
did.  This  meeting  was  held  at  Capt.  White's, 
in  Raynham.— It  was  Saturday  evening,  and 
although  the  night  was  dark— and  the  storm 
fast  gathering,  a  large  number  collected.— 
She  addressed  them  from  these  words:— 
**  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world."     St.  John  i.  29. 


INCIDENTS    WHILE    AT    EASTON. 


55 


After  meeting  she  was  requested  to  give  out 
another  appointment.  She  accordingly  con-> 
sented  to  preach  the  next  day,  (Sunday)  -** 
two  o'clock  ;  but  as  she  was  going  hr  le 
Satan  suggested  to  her,  that  she  had  sai  i  all 
that  night  she  could,  and  she  would  have 
nothing  remaining  to  add  on  the  mor;ow. 

The  next  day  she  went  to  her  appointment, 
but  without  a  subject.  The  adversary  of 
souls,  who  goeth  about  like  a  roaring  lion, 
hurled  his  firey  darts,  thick  around  her,  and 
led  her  to  believe,  that  if  she  attempted  to 
speak,  she  would  get  confounded.  The  peo- 
ple had  beijan  to  assemble,  she  took  her  Bible, 
but  searched  in  vain  for  a  text.  Here  sh».  was, 
as  Satan  had  told  her — the  hour  arrived — 
the  audience  assembled — no  text — no  sub- 
ject— and  nothing  to  say  ! — What  could  she 
do  ? — Perhaps  she  might  have  felt  as  Eld. 
Colby  did,  when  on  one  occasion,  about  the 
first  of  his  preaching,  after  getting  confound- 
ed, like  going  to  the  river  and  drowning  her- 
self. But  in  this  instance  God  who  is  a 
present  help  in  every  time  of  need,  supplied 
her  with  a  subject,  in  season  to  deliver  a 
feeling  discourse,  from  the  Psalmist — "If  the 
foundations  be  destroyed,  what  can  the  righ- 
teous do." — Psalms  xi.  3. 


56 


MEMOIR. 


INCIDENTS    WHILE    AT    EASTON. 


57 


lii 


She  jrave  another  appointment  for  the  next 
P  Sabbath  at  a  Mr.  Smitli's,  and  when  the  time 
arrived  spoke  from  these  words, — 
\**Sothe  ship  master  came  to  him,  and  said 
unto  him,  what  meanest  thou  O sleeper  ?  Arise 
and  call  upon  thy  God;  if  so  be,  God  will 
think  upon  us,  and  we  perish  not  !" — Jonah 

i.  6. 

The  year  1830,  was  noted  for  a  powerful 
revival  of  relij^ion  in  Easton,  and  its  vicinity. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  the  most  extensive, 
ever  known  in  that  section,  and  in  this  work, 
Sister  Lincoln  was  actively  engaged.  In 
speaking  of  it  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  she 
gays  :  —  #  #  #  *  *  t<  The  ark  of  the  Lord 
seems  to  be  moving  on  !  The  brethren  and 
sisters,  labor  like  those  accustomed  to  the 
yoke  !  about  twelve  professed  faith  in  Christ, 
during  the  first  four  days,  and  last  evening 
we  numbered  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
at  the  altar  for  prayers  ! — Since  then  the 
work  has  moved  onward  with  power.  This 
work  far  surpasses  any  thing  I  ever  saw,  all 
classes  and  ages  from  eleven  to  ninety,  are 
the  subjects  of  divine  grace.  It  is  still  spread- 
ing with  power  and  glory  !  " 

Connected  with  her  history  at  Easton,  arc^ 


some  pleasing  associations.  She  formed  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintance  and  friends,  to 
whom  she  was  ardently  attoched  through  life. 
Among  her  most  intimate  companions,  was 
Sophronia  Packard,  who  worked  in  the  same 
room  with  her,  and  boarded  in  the  same 
family. 

Sophronia  experienced  religion,  during  the 
revival  in  Easton  in  J83i).     She  was   then  at 
home,    and   Salome   and   another   lady    was 
there  on  a  visit,  Sophronia  was  deeply  dis- 
tressed in  her   mind,   and   requested   Sister 
Lincoln  to  pray  with  her.     They  then  knelt 
together,  the  two  ladies  on  either  side,  while 
Salome  addressed  the  throne  of  grace  in  a 
solemn  and  feeling  manner  ;  and  when  they 
arose  the  other  lady  remarked  to  her  ; — 
**  Sophronia  has  received  light." 
"  I  know  it — I  know  it  !"  replied  Salome. 
The   clouds   of  darkness   were   dispelled 
from  her  mind,  and  the  glorious  Son  of  righ- 
teousness spoke  peace  to  her  wounded  soul. 
From  this  time,  to  the  time  of  her  death 
she  lived  a  devoted  christian.     She  died  hap- 
py, and  just  before  departing  this  life  to  be 
with  Jesus,  she  exhorted  her  husband  to  pre- 


6 


li 


II 


58 


MEMOIR. 


INCIDENTS    WHILE    AT    EASTON. 


59 


pare  to  meet  her  at  the  judgment   seat   of 

Christ. 

The  day  she  was  taken  sick,  seven  weeks 
before  her  death,  she  wrote  some  resolutions 
to  trovern  her  future  hfe  ;  and  excepting  an 
inscription  addressed  to  her  husband,  to  be 
placed  on  her  tablet,  this  was  her  last  busi- 
ness, having  been  taken  sick  the  same  night. 
The  following  is  an  extract : — 

"  This  day  do  I  fully  surrender  myself  to 
Thee,  to  be  thine  through  Ti7?ie  and  Eter- 
nity !  All  that  I  have,  and  am  to  be  disposed 
of,  as  thou  seest  fit.  Grant  Lord  to  give 
me  grace  to  perform,  and  strength  to  fulfil 
all  the  obligations  I  make  this  day  to  thee. 
O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee  to  keep  me  unspotted 
from  the  world  !  May  every  morning  of  my 
life,  witness  a  renewal  of  myself  to  thee  ! 
»  #  #  ♦  »  Grant  me  grace  sufficient  to  keep 
this  resolution  ; — and  may  this  solemn  vow 
not  be  broken,  till  death  seals  in  silence,  my 
mortal  tongue." 

SOPHRONIA  H.  SnELL.  * 

She  has  gone  !    Her   happy   spirit,   freed 
from  its  tenement  of  clay,  and  accompained, 
by  angels,  took  its  flight  away  from  earth,  Sep- 
*  Her  name  after  marriage. 


tember  7,  1837,  to  reap  the   rich   reward   of 
the  christian.    She  could  say  with  the  poet, — 

"  Ye  glittering  toys  of  earth  adieu, 

A  nobler  choice  be  mine  ; 
A  real  prize  attracts  my  view, 

A  treasure  all  divine  !" 

Said  one  of  old,  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of 
the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his." 
There  is  a  marked  contrast  between  the 
death-bed  scene  of  the  righteous,  and  the  un- 
godly, him  that  is  prepared,  and  him  who 
hath  squandered  life  away,  until  his  glass  has 
run  out,  without  securing  an  interest  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven ! 

The  ardent  attachment  formed  between 
these  two  individuals,  remained  unshaken  till 
death.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter, 
written  by  Sister  Lincoln,  will  serve  to  show 
the  nature  of  that  friendship.  It  was  written 
at  Easton,  and  dated  June  10,  1830. 

This  letter  independent  of  the  sentiment, 
will  serve  to  illustrate  her  brilliant  style  of 
writing.  I  think  it  among  one  of  the  most 
excellent  productions  I  have  ever  read,  and 
would  recommend  it  to  the  careful  perusal  of 
every  reader.     It  reads  as  follows: — 

"Dear  Frie7id  :  —  In  compliance  with  your 
request,  I  now  propose  to   dedicate    a   few 


60 


MEMOIR. 


INCIDENTS    WHILE    AT    EASTON. 


61 


I 


m 


lines  to  you,  as  a  memorial  of  that  friendship, 
which  commenced    wilh    our  first  acquaint- 
ance,  and   has  strencrthened    till  I   find    you 
twining-  like  a  silver  chord  around  my  heart— 
A  friendship  so  sacred  that  death  itself  can- 
not dessolve  the  tie  that  hinds  us  together  ! 
But  when  life's  flickering  lamp  has  ceased  to 
burn,  and  our  bodies  are  consigned  to  the  pale 
mansions   of  the  dead,  I  humbly   trust   our 
kindred  spirits   will  rise  through  the  ethereal 
blue,  to  those  mansions  of  eternal  rest,  where 
no  sorrow  or  distress,  will  ever  have  admit- 
tance for  one  moment,  to  mar  our  felicity,  or 
disturb  the  aspiration  of  praise,  to  the  great 
fountain  of  all  happiness  ! 

I  rejoice  exceedingly  in  the  choice  you 
have  made  in  early  life  of  religion.  You 
have  enlisted  in  the  best  of  all  causes,  and 
some  experience  has  taught  me  llmt  wisdom's 
ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her 
paths  are  peace. 

Though  your  paths  may  not  always  be 
strewed  with  thornless  roses  ;  yet  you  will  find 
by  a  close  walk  with  God,  every  trial  will 
be  sweetened,  and  your  path  will  grow  brighter 
and  brighter  until  the  perfect  day." 

Yours  &,c.,  Salome  Lincoln. 


Life's  flickering  lamp  in  both  these  indi- 
viduals has  now  gone  out,  and  doubtless  their 
kindred  spirits  are  united  in  heaven  !  It  is  a 
pleasing  reflection  to  the  christian,  that  though 
death  may  sever  earthly  ties  ;  yet  in  heaven 
we  shall  be  re-united,  forever  beyond  the 
influence  of  dissolution. 

At  the  death  of  Sister  Lincoln,  the  follow- 
ing memento  was  found  among  her  papers  : 

TO   SALOME. 

"  Go  lovely  girl  o'er  distant  hills, 
Some  friend  more  blest  than  I  to  find  ; 

And  when  the  evening  dew  distills, 
Let  memory  call  past  scenes  t(j  mind ! 

Thy  joys— thy  sorrows  here  to  share, 

Perhaps  will  never  be  my  lot ; 
But  thou  may'st  grant  this  fervant  prayer, 

Forget  me  noi— forget  me  not ! 

And  when  the  flowers  of  summer,  bloom 

Upon  the  grave  where  I  shall  sleep, 
Come  then  and  on  my  silent  tomb, 

One  tear  of  friendship  kindly  weep." 

SOPHRONIA   H.    PaCKABD. 


6* 


62 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


63 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  FEMALE  PREACHER. 

..  Go  ye  inlo  M  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  toe«ry 
creature."— Christ. 

Beautiful  upon  the  mountains, 
Are  the  messengers  of  peacc."-.4dam.. 

Amid  all  the  trials,  attending  llie  labors  of 
the  faithfnl  minister,  there  is  a  pleasure  m 
preaching  the  gospd,  which  has  its  rise,  from 
knowing  that  we  are  useful  as  the  servants  of 
Christ,  and  from  com,.lyi"g  "ith  the  convic- 
tion which  God  has  implanted  in  our  bosom, 
that  it  is  our   duty.     Now  if  it  be  true,  that 
man  cannot  satisfy  the  requisitions  thus  made, 
and  hence  enjoy  happiness  ;  and  if  God  has 
implanted  the  same  conviction    of   duty,  in 
the  breast  of  woman,  how  can  she  any  more 
than  man,  rest  satisfied  or  expect  happiness, 
unless  she  obey  the  calls  of  God  1 

I  expect  that  in  heaven,  woman  will  occu- 
ov  as  hicrh  a  rank  among  the  happy  myriads, 
Z  man,°and  will  tune  her  voice  in  the  praises 


of  God,  as  high  as  any  of  the  angels,  who 
have  sung  in  paradise  for  ages.  But  her 
voice  will  he  melodious  there,  in  proportion 
to  her  faithfulness  here.  This  being  the  case 
there  is  an  incentive  for  tcoman,  as  well  as 
man,  to  forsake  all  and  follow  Christ. 

It  was  this  that  actuated  Salome  to  leave 
father  and  mother,  brother  and  sister,  neigh- 
bors and  friends,  and  to  break  up  all  the 
social  relations  of  life  in  order  to  Preach  ike 
Gospel ;  and  if  there  is  joy  in  heaven  over 
one  sinner  that  repenteth,  who  would  wish  to 
deprive  her,  or  any  other  woman  from  par- 
ticipating in  that  joy. 

As  the  spring  of  1830  wore  away,  and  as 
the  tender  buds  began  to  swell,  and  summer's 
splendor  to  dawn,  her  heart  expanded  with 
benevolence  ;  and  she  began  to  feel  still  more 
deeply  for  the  lost  condition  of  a  dying  world. 
In  view  of  this  she  resolved  to  forsake  all, 
and  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation. 
Accordingly  May  18th,  she  left  the  factory  at 
Easton,  and  made  preparation  for  more  ex- 
tended usefulness. 

One  week  before  she  left  Easton,  as  she 
was  returning  on  the  Sabbath  from  meeting, 
she  stopped  by  the  way  at  five  o'clock  to  at- 


64 


MEMOIR. 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


65 


tend  a  conference.  A  cloud  of  darkness, 
accordinir  to  her  own  relation,  hovered  over 
her  mind,  and  she  felt  as  though  her  soul  was 
barren,  and  she  should  have  nothing  to  do  or 
say.  She  entered  the  room,  and  took  her 
seat,  but  on  casting  her  eye  around,  discov- 
ered one  with  whom  she  labored. 

This  girl  was  seriously  inclined,  and  one 
whom  Salome  highly  esteemed  ;  but  of  any- 
thing further,  she  was  not  aware.  Yet  there 
was  a  silent  whispering  within,  which  told  her 
that  all  was  not  right.  As  the  contest  was 
going  on  between  the  enemy  and  the  spirit, 
Salome  arose  to  speak  ;  and  the  first  word 
she  uttered  was  like  a  nail,  fastened  in  a  sure 
place;  it  sunk  deep  into  the  heart  of  her 
friend,  and  when  the  meeting  closed,  she 
found  her  under  deep  concern  of  mind  for 
the  salvation  of  her  soul.  From  this  meet- 
ing they  repaired  to  a  class  meeting,  where 
her  friend  was  soon  basking  in  the  sunshine 
of  God's  Eternal  Love,  his  spirit  testifying 
with  her  spirit,  that  she  was  born  again. 

The  first  discourse  that  Sister  Lincoln 
preached  after  leaving  Easton,  was  at  Hope- 
well, at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Hall.  It  be- 
ing the  place  where  she  had  formerly  worked, 


*.  ^ 


and  many  of  her  old  acquaintance  still  re- 
maining, she  naturally  had  fears  in  relation 
to  what  they  would  think  and  say.     But  not- 
withstanding this  she  went  boldly    forward  in 
the  discharge  of  duty,  and  when  the  hour  for 
meeting  arrived,  the  house  was  crowded  with 
spectators,    many    of    whom    had    doubtless 
come  with  no  otiier  view,  than  to  hear  Salome 
Lincoln.     There   are  many  individuals,  who 
will  turn  out  to  meeting  when  some  strano-er, 
or  exciting  preacher  is  to  be  present,   when 
in  the   same    places,  on  ordinary  occasions, 
the  house  of  God  is  left  desolate. 

Her  text  on  this  occasion,  was  from  Deu. 
xxxii.  11,  12,  "As  an  eagle  stirreth  up  her 
nest,  fluttereth  over  her  young,  spreadeth 
abroad  her  wings,  taketh  them,  beareth  them 
on  her  wings  ;  so  the  Lord  alone  did  lead  him, 
and  there  was  no  strange  god  with  him.  " 

This  sermon  was  preached  the  2Sth  of 
May,  and  the  next  day  being  Saturday,  she 
went  in  company  with  Miss  Liscora  *  to  a 
town  a  few  miles  S.  W.  of  Taunton,  where 

*  Elizabeth  Liscom,  now  French.  To  her  Salome  was 
ardently  attached,  and  from  her  she  received  as  much  en- 
couragement during  her  severe  trials,  as  from  any  other  in- 
dividual. 


I 


66 


MEMOIR 


she  spent  the  Sabbath.     During  the  day  she 

attended    meeting   with  tlie  ,  *    and 

listened  to  the  discourse  of  a  young  man  by 
the  name  of  B  *  *  *  *.  At  six  o'clock  that 
evening,  being  requested,  she  consented  to 
preach  in  a  school  house,  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  ;  but  during  the  interval  strong  oppo- 
sition was  raised  among  some  of  the  brethren, 
and  when  arrived  at  the  place  of  appoint- 
ment, they  found  that  no  preparation  had 
been  made,  and  the  door  fust  locked.  How- 
ever, two  ladies  went  and  obtained  the  key, 
and  opened  the  door.  The  house  was  soon 
densely  croioded,  and  as  not  near  all  could  get 
in,  they  were  forced  to  take  out  the  windows, 
in  order  that  those  outside  might  hear.  She 
commenced  the  exercises  by  giving  out  the 
following  hymn,  well  adapted,  not  only  to 
her  own  feelings,  but  to  the  occasion. — 

"  Savior  of  men,  thy  searching  eye, 
Doth  all  my  inmost  thoughts  descry ; 

Doth  aught  on  earth,  my  wishes  raise 
Or  the  world's  pleasure,  or  its  praise  ? 


*  The  name  of  the  town,  together  with  the  denomination 
and  individuals,  are  kept  behind  the  curtain,  as  strong  sec- 
tarian prejudice  was  prohahly  manifested,  and  the  respect  we 
have  to  individual  feeling,  leads  us  not  to  name  them. 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER.  67 

The  love  of  Christ,  doth  me  constrain, 
'i  o  seek  the  wandering  souls  of  men; 

With  cries,  entreaties,  tears  to  save, 
To  snatch  them  from  the  gaping  grave. 

For  this  let  men  revile  my  name  ; 
No  cross  I  shun,  I  fear  no  shame  ; 

All  hail  reproach  !  and  welcome  pain- 
Only  thy  terrors,  Lord  restrain  ! 

Give  me  thy  strength,  O  God  of  power! 

Then  let  winds  blow,  and  thunders  roar  ; 
Thy  faithful  witness  will  I  be, 

Tis  fixed  —  /  can  do  all  through  Thee  !" 

No  one  can  tell  the  conflicting  emotions, 
which  filled  the  breast  of  Salome  on  this  occa- 
sion. The  embarrassing  circumstances  under 
which  she  was  placed,  was  enough  to  have 
put  to  test  the  feelings  of  the  harder  sex. 

Urg,ently    requested   to   preach,    by  those 
too,  whom  she   reasonably  presumed    were 
her  friends,  and  then  as  she  moved  forward, 
innocently,  and  honestly,  as  she  thought  in 
the  discharge  of  duty-to  find  herself  alone 
and  unprotected  save  by  a  few  female  friends' 
the    way   apparently   hedged   up,    the  door 
locked  against  her,  and  to  witness  the  silent 
whisperings  of  scornful   reproach,    was   ex- 
tremely severe.     But  in  justice  to    our  de- 
parted Sister,  and  others  concerned,  we  are 


6S 


MEMOIR. 


THE    FEMALE    PREACUER. 


69 


bound  to  say  ;  that  if  there  was  any  prejudice 
previously  cxistinji^,  it  was  of  but  sliort  dura- 
tion, as  on  the  next  day,  she  received  ihrouiih 
the  hands  of  Miss  Lisconi,  the  following 
poHte  note  : — 

*'  Sister  Lincoln  : — Without  doubt  you  liave 
heard  that  I  did  not  hke  to  liave  you  jireach 
in  tliis  neij^hborhood.  Tliat  report  is  not 
true,  fori  should  be  g\ad  to  have  you  preach 
here  often.  The  report  was  through  mii^un- 
derstanding,  or  evil  intentions.  The  reason 
why  I  did  not  attend  meeting,  was,  my  busi- 
ness rendered  it  impracticable.  I  should  be 
glad  to  have  you  come  and  preach  here, 
whenever  you  can  make  it  convenient.  And 
when  our  house  is  finished,  our  pulpit  shall 
be  at  your  service." 

Yours  with  Christian  aflection, 

*^***  ***** 

She  remained  at  *  *  *  *  about  two  weeks, 
and  held  other  meetings,  and  then  returned 
to  Taunton. 

She  next  went  to  Rochester  Neck.  Roch- 
ester is  a  town  in  the  southern  part  of  Ply- 
mouth county.  At  Rochester  she  found  many 
friends,  among  whom  were  Eldrs.  Johnston 


and  Minor,  and  while  here  she  preached  sev- 
eral  times;  once  in  a  school  house  on  Roch- 
ester Neck.     The  notice  had  been  previously 
given    out    by    Eld.   Johnston,  ^  the   house 
was  well  filled,  and   the  Lord  manifested  big 
presence  in    the  midst.     She  says:— "I  felt 
rather  awkward  on  account  of  Elder  Johns- 
ton being  present,  but  I  made  the  best  of  it 
I  could,  and  as  soon  as  I  had  concluded,  he 
gave  out  notice  that  I  would  preach  again  in 
the  evening.     I  went  to  my  appointment  that 
evening,  as  deliberately  as  ever  I  went  to  a 
day's  work  in  my  life.     The  house  was  very 
much  crowded,  besides  a  large  number  who 
could  not  get  in,  and  were  forced  to  stand 
outside." 

The  next  Sabbath  she  attended  a  meeting 
and  preached  in  the  same  neighborhood  ;  but 
so  large  a  number  assembled  at  the  school 
house,  that  it  was  thought  best  to   hold  the 
meeting  in  a  grove  near  by.     Elder  Johnston 
preached  in  the  morning,  and  Sister  Lincoln 
in  the  afternoon.     The  scene  on  this  occasion 
was  truly  sublime.     Surrounded  as  she  was 
by   a   large   concourse    of  people,    of  both 
sexes,  and  of  all  ages,  some  of  whom  had 
come  miles  to  hear  The  Female  Preacher,  and 


70 


MEMOIR 


who  then  stood  listening  with  breathless  at- 
tention to  the  plain  truths  of  the  g^ospel,  as 
they  eloquently  escaped  from  her  lips,  while 
she  stood  sheltered  from  the  scorchinir  rays 
of  the  sun,  under  the  spreading:  branches  of 
a  lofty  tree.  The  next  Sabbath  after,  she 
preached  in  what  is  called  the  Old  Spruce 
Meeting-house  in  Middleborough.  *  With 
regard  to  her  discourse  there,  but  little  is 
known  by  the  author.  She  spent  several 
weeks  in  preaching  in  this  section,  and  then 
left  for  the  Cape.  After  leaving  Rochester 
she  spent  several  months  in  preachino-  at 
Harwich,  Chatham,  Orleans,  Falmouth  and 
Brewster.  At  Brewster  she  was  the  happy 
witness  of  several  hopeful  conversions. 

She  went  to  Falmouth  sometime  in  the 
month  of  September,  to  a  camp-meeting  held 
at  a  place  commonly  called  Wayquoit,  and 
sometimes  East  Falmouth.  On  the  fourth 
day  of  the  meetings  the  preachers  were  obliged 
to  leave,  but  Salome  remained.  The  work 
of  the  Lord  already  powerfully  begun,  was 

*  Middleborough  is  in  the  South  West  part  of  Plymouth 
County ;  and  the  Old  Spruce  meeting-house,  now  standing, 
is  about  six  miles  South  East  from  Middleborough  Four 
Corners. 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


71 


rapidly  spreading,  and  twelve  individuals  who 
on  the  morning  of  that  day  were  in  the  gall 
of  bitterness  and  in  the  bonds  of  iniquity, 
before  night  were  rejoicing  in  the  Lord. 

i:^Ue  continued    to   hold  meetings   for    the 
several  succeeding  nights,  and  a  large   num- 
ber more   were  converted.     In  speaking    of 
this    revival,    she    says, —"  The    Lord^'has 
worked  like  himself— a  wonder  working  God. 
It  is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  it  is  marvellous 
in  our  eyes.     It  cannot  be  said  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, as  it  is  frequently  said  in    othe'rs, 
during    revivals    of  religion,  that   it    is   only 
among  the    weak    and  silly    women,  or  the 
lower  classes  in  society,  for  it  is  chiefly  con- 
fined to  the  young  men,    and  those  too    of 
promising  talents,  and  from  the  first  class  in 
society." 

And  here  I  would  add  ;  how  frequently  is 
the  ear  pained,  and  the  heart  of  the  faithful 
christian  melted  by  expressions  like  those 
alluded  to  in  the  above,  and  that  too  from 
men,  whose  convictions  of  truth  and  duty,  at 
the  same  time,  teach  them  better —  just  as 
though  Heaven  and  Lnmortal  Glory,  was 
good  enough  for  the  poor  and  despised!-^ 
But  as  for  them,  they  have  no  concern  about 


\% 


■'A 


ii 


''  11 


72 


MEMOIR. 


the  futttre!  Such  men,  will  do  well  to  re- 
flect, that  they  have  a  soul  to  be  saved  or  lost, 
a  soul  o(  immortal  worth  !— Yes,  ten  thousand 
worldsXxk^  this,  with  all  its  riches,  and  hon- 
ors would  not  pay  for  the  Ransom  of  such  a 
soul  !  And  aorain  they  will  do  well  to  reflect 
upon  the  death-bed  scene  of  Thomas  Paine, 
and  some  other  noted  infidels  ;  who,  as  the 
lamp  of  life  went  out  were  left  in  the  most 
abject  misery,  calling  upon  an  insulted  Savior 
to  have  mercy  I 

It  was  during  this  revival,  that  two  young 
men,  Benjamin  and    Simeon    Eldrich    were 
converted.     They    were    men  of  promising 
talent,  highly  respected  among  their  acquaint'^ 
ance,    and    devotedly    pious.     What   is   still 
more  remarkable,  but  a  short  time  after  their 
conversion,  they  had  strong  presentiment  of 
their  approaching  death.  They  both  followed 
the  sea,  and  Simeon  but  a  few  days  before 
he  left  Iiome  for  the  last  time,  went  through 
the    neighborhood— took   leave  of  the   hiMs 
and  trees,  and  as  he  left  each  family,  invari- 
ably remarked,  that  it  was  his  fixed  convic- 
tion that  he  should  never  return.     About'  the 
«ame  period  he  attended  a  meeting   in   the 
vicinity,  and  there  remarked,—  "  Some  doubt 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


73 


that  I  am  willing  to  die.     They  say,  it  is  faith 
untried  !     I  will  think  of  it,  1  am   willing  to 
die  !— I  will  think  of  it  ag-am—Iam  loiUing 
to  die  !  —  I  will  think  of  it  thrice  —  I  am  wil- 
ling TO  DIE  !— The  moment  my  spirit  leaves 
the  body,  it  will  be  in  immortal  glory  I  "_ 
Who  after  witnessing  such  christian  fortitude, 
can  for  a  moment  doubt  the  virtue  of  religion, 
or,  that 

"  Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed, 
Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are.  " 

Soon  after  this,   he  went  to   sea  in  a   vessel 
bound  for  l^ew  York,  and  was  lost ! 

Benjamin,  though  equally  impressed  with 
a  conviction  that  the  hour  drew  near  for  him 
to  depart   this  life,  yet  being  more  retiring, 
said  less  about  it,  to  those  around  him.     He 
was  lost  from  the  Schooner  Spy,  bound  from 
New  York  to  Baltimore.     He    was  passing 
the  lead  in  the  evening,  in  order  to  get  the 
sounding,    and  unperceived   fell    overboard, 
and    was   drowned.     They  have  gone  from 
whence  no  traveller  returns;  but  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  sacred  penman,— "  Blessed  are 
the  dead  that  die  in  ihe  Lord." 

Sister  Lincoln  remained  at  East  Falmouth, 

and  vicinity,  until  about  the  last  of  October. 

7# 


m 


%        V- 


74 


M  E  MO I  R  . 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


75 


Her  time  while  there  was  well  spent,  in 
preaching,  visiting  and  attending  conferen- 
ces. From  a  letter  written  home  to  her  pa- 
rents, we  learn  that  while  gone,  at  this  time, 
she  preached  between  thirty  and  forty  dis- 
courses. This  for  a  female  just  beginning, 
and  not  in  the  enjoyment  of  very  good  health 
was  a  large  amount  of  labor. 

An  anecdote  is  related  of  her  while  on  the 
Cape  in  ISliO  showing  her  ardent  attachment 
to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the  deep  interest 
she  felt  in  the  salvation  of  others.     A  party 
was  collected  to  go  to  the  beach  to  enjoy  a 
short  recreation,  and  among  those  who  joined 
them,  were  two   young  men,  who  I   should 
judge  had  not  much  respect  for  themselves, 
for  religion,  or  for  any  thing  else  of  a  weighty 
character.     They  were    seated    on    wha^t   is 
called  by  those  who  reside  on  the  beach  a 
Horsefoot.     Salome  in   her  usually   friendly 
and  feeling  manner,  went   up  to  them  and 
enquired    if   they    enjoyed    religion.       The 
only  reply  they  made  was,  this  Horsefoot  is 

hard,  and  rudely  left  her.    But  if  their 

consciences  were  not  seared  as  with  a  hot 
iron,  they  heard  those  words  resounding  in 
their   ears    for  more  than    one  twenty-four 


hours  after,  and  if  now  living  out  of  Christ, 
though  her  tongue  is  silenced  in  death,  yet 
she  speaketh  in  an  audible  voice,  in  the  lan- 
guage then  used—"  young  men  !  do  you  enjoy 
religion  ? "  Prepare  before  your  day  of 
probation  ceases,  to  answer  this  question,  at 
the  judgment  seat  of  Christ  ! 

After  returning  home,  she  went  back  to 
work  in  the  factory  at  Easton,  where  she  re- 
mained till  sometime  in  the  month  of  Febru- 
ary 1831,  when  she  bid  a  final  adieu  to  the 
factories,  for  a  higher  and  nobler  calling. 

"  How  beauteous  are  their  feet, 
AVho  stand  on  Zion's  Hill ; 
Who  hring  salvation  on  their  tongues, 
And  words  of  peace  reveal !  " 

With  these  passing  remarks  on  the  life  of 
Sister  Lincoln,  I  shall  now  close  the  chapter; 
and  in  doing  which,  it  is  becoming  that  we 
pause  and  reflect.  In  the  life  of  Sister 
Lincoln,  we  see  exemplified  in  a  striking 
manner,  not  only  a  strong  mind,  a  resolute 
perseverence — a  character  signalized  for  its 
deep  toned  piety,  and  strict  adherence  to 
truth ;  but  the  sacred  regard  of  God  for  hi^ 
children. 


76 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


77 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  FEMALE  PREACHER. 
Continued. 

"  Home,  thy  joys  are  passing  lovely ; 

Joys  no  stranger  heart  can  tell, 
Happy  home,  indeed  1  love  thee'— 

Can  I,  can  I  say  farewell  ?  ■' 

Only  those  «l,o  have  been  called  a,var 
from  the  endearments  of  home,  can  conceive 
of  the  feelings  that  agitate  tl,e  hosom,  as  the 
hour  rapully  hastens  on,  when  we  are  to 
separate  ourselves  from  those  we  love,  and 
leave  the  scenes  of  youth  behind,  for  a  resi 
dence  among  strangers.     It  is  then  that  the 

past  with  all  its  heaufes,  and  .he  future  with 
all  as  forbod.ngs.  crowd  in  upon  the  mind 

m.ng hngpain  with  pleasure.  I„  youth,  time' 
lays  her  finger  heavily  upon  n,e„,or^,  and 
Mamps  her  images  with  indehhie  impress ; 
so  that  on  an  occasion  like  the  one  I  am  de' 
«cr.b.ng,  we  remember  all  the  pleasing  asso- 
ciations connected  with  vouth. 

It  is  then,  that  we  call' tom'ind  the   many 
happy  hours  we  have  spent  under  the  foster- 


ing  care  of  our  parents— We  remember  the 
sports  of  childhood-Our  school-day  scenes- 
and  how,  that  let  loose   from  confinement, 
our  hearts   would   bound  with  joy,  and  our 
bodies  glad  to  be  freed,  would  keep  time  to 
Its  action,  as  we  sped  away  to  join  our  merry 
companions.     And  as  we  sat  at  the  window 
of  the  coach,  which   was  bearing  us  awav 
gazing  upon   objects  rendered  familiar  from 
having  been   oft  visited,  we  reali^ed,  perhaps 
for  the  first  time,  how  far  short  earthly  plea- 
sures fall  of  imparting  happiness  !  And  then 
too  we  felt  the  uncertainty  of  life. 

Perhaps  this  is  the  last-came  to  the  mind 
with  force,  and  stole  a  tear  !     I  have  stood 
around  the  bed  of  a  dear  earthly  relative   • 
and  heard  the  last  expiring  breath,  as  the 
spirit  t.«,k  Its  departure,  and  seen  the  eye 
silently  close  in  death,  and  felt  to  say,  "  thr 
will   be   done."      I  felt  on   such    an   occa- 
sion that  my  loss  was  his  eternal  gain.   But  to 
tear  myself  from  home,  knowing  not  where 
my  lot  might  be  cast,  or  how  my  path  might 
be  strewed-and   called  to   gaze   upon   the 
faces  of  those  I  loved,  knowing  not  where 
we  should  meet  again,  far  surpassed  every 

•  A  Father. 


'i 


t 


78 


MEMOIR. 


THE    FEMALE    PREACHER. 


79 


thing  else,  I  have  ever  experienced.  Many 
a  time  on  such  an  occasion,  I  have  felt  to  say 
with  ihe  poet. 

Can  I  —  can  I  say  fareioell  ? 

But  after  a  few  more  such  meeting^s  and 
partings,  have  come  and  gone,  we  shall  all 
part  or  meet,  to  part  no  more  ! 

Sometime  in  the  montli  of  May  or  June  1831 , 
Sister  Lincoln  again  left  home,  to  spend  the 
summer  in  Barnstahle  and  Dukes  Go's.,  Mass. 
Previous  to  this  date  she  had  sj)ent  but  liitle 
time  out  of  her  own  immediate  circle  of 
acquaintance,  except  for  a  short  season  to 
visit  or  preach.  But  now  the  scale  turned  ; 
as  after  the  spring  of  IS:^,  she  only  occa- 
sionally visited  home  — and  from  1S31  to  the 
time  of  her  marriage,  she  was  constantly  im- 
merging  into  new  society,  and  forming  new 
associations. 

The  first  place  she  visited,  after  leaving 
home  this  summer,  ( 1831 )  was  Pocassett,  a  v'lt 
lage  in  Sandwich,  *  Mass.  She  went  to  Po- 
casset  to  attend  a  protracted  meeting,  and 
while  there  stopped  in  the  family  of  Br^Alviii 
Swift.     She  preached  several  times,  and  from 

*  A  town  in  the  North  West  part  of  Barnstable  County. 


there  went  again  to  East  Falmouth,  the  place 
where  she  visited  and  preached  in  IS30. 
•   Her  labors  here,  were  in  conjunction  with 
those  of  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Pierce, 
a  preacher  among  the  Reformed  Methodist. 
He  had  been  preaching  there  for  some  time, 
and  was  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 
At    this   time   Salome   preached   for  several 
weeks,  and  occasionally  visited  there  for  one 
or  two  of  the  followir.g  years.     And  besides 
the  places  which  we  shall  mention,  there  are 
probably  a  large    number    of  others,  in  the 
vicinity  and  adjoining  towns,  where  she  vis- 
ited, of  which  we  have  no  definite  knowledge. 
It  is  not  my  object  to  trace  her  in  all  her 
journeyings  from  town  to  town,  and   village 
to  village,  and  give  a  minute  description  of 
every  place  and  sermon,  and  in  fact  it  would 
be   impossible;    and    such    a   course    would 
prove    both   monotonous   and    uninteresting. 
Therefore  if  I  lay  before  the  reader,  some  of 
the  more  prominent  details,  I  shall  have  ac- 
complished all  he  can  reasonably  expect. 

From  East  Falmouth  she  went  to  Holmes' 
Hole,  a  village  which  takes  its  name  from  its 
harbor,  in  the  town  of  Tisbury,  on  Martha's 
Vineyard.     Martha's  Vineyard  embraces  one 


t 


m 


80 


MEMOIR. 


H 

m 


entire  county,  (Duke's,)  and  is  situated  in 
the  South  East  part  of  Mass.  It  is  an  island, 
about  six  miles  from  the  main  land.  Hohnes* 
Hole  is  on  the  north  side.  It  has  a  beauti- 
ful harbor,  which  makes  a  safe  resort  for 
vessels  during  a  storm.  Martha's  Vineyard,* 
like  Nantucket  is  isolated  from  the  rest  of  the 
world  ;  and  one  would  almost  suppose  that 
its  inhabitants,  could  enjoy  the  paradise  of 
Eden. 

Besides  the  one  already  named,  (Tisbury)^ 
there  are  two  other  large  towns,  Chilmark 
and  Edgartown  ;  at  these  places  Salome  spent 
considerable  time. 

She  went  to  Martha's  Vineyard  about  the 
first  of  July  1S31,  f  with  Bro."  Hiram  Chase 
and  wife.  Bro.  Chase  was  at  East  Falmouth 
on  a  visit,  where  he  spent  the  Sabbath,  with 
his    wife's  mother.     Salome  had  for  a  long 

*  Martha's  Viueyard,  Nantucket,  and  I  think  the  Eliza- 
beth Islands,  as  related  l.y  tradition,  derived  their  names 
from  the  three  daughters  of  a  wealthy  gentleman,  Martha, 
Nancy,  and  Elizabeth,  who  received  those  lands  as  their 
possession.    For  the  truth  of  this  I  shall  not  be  responsible. 

t  Sister  Chase  states,  that  they  carried  her  to  the  is- 
land  for  the  first  lime  she  was  ever  there,  in  1831.    She 
IS  probably  correct ;  but  f  find  one  reference,  and  only  one 
of  hex  beinjf  there  in  1830,  which  is  probably  incorrect. 


THE     PREACHER. 


81 


time  wished  to  visit  the  island  ;  but  till  now, 
the  way  never  seemed  to  be  open. 

On  the  Sabbath  alluded  to,  Br.  Pierce 
preached  in  the  forenoon,  and  Salome  in  the 
afternoon.  She  had  for  several  days  been 
unwell,  and  that  day  so  much  so,  that  she 
kept  her  bed,  until  the  time  of  meeting,  and 
then  went  to  her  appointment. 

After  meeting  Mrs.  Chase  proposed  that 
she  should  accompany  them  to  the  Vineyard 
remarking  at  the  same  time,  that  she  mi-ht 
make  it  her  home  with  them,  as  long  as  The 
remained  on  the  island.  *     Having  had  strong 
impressions  that  God  had  something  for  her 
to  do  there,  she  cheerfully  accepted  the  kind 
offer,  and  accordingly  made  immediate  prep- 
aration  to  leave  East  Falmouth. 

The  first  place  she  preached  on  the  Vine- 
yard, was  at  the  old  meeting  house  belonging 
to  the  Calvinist  Baptist  in  Holmes'  Hole  ^ 
Her  text  was  :-^*  Is  there  no  balm  hi  Gilead  ; 
IS  there  no  physician  there  V'^ Jeremiah  viii.  22. 
On  this  occasion  she  spoke  to  a  crowded 
house,   and   a  listening   congregation  ;  and 
,many  who  heard  her,  were  melted  to  tears. 
After  this  she  frequently  preached  there, 
*  Br.  Chase's  residence  is  at  Hohnes'  Hole. 

8 


82 


MEMOIR. 


TH  E     P  RE  A  CHE  R. 


83 


but  not  much  in  the  meeting-houses,  as  the 
desks  were  made  the  sanctum  sanctorum,  and 
were  too  sacred  for  the  proclamation  of  Free 
and  unmerited  Salvation,  from  the  Jips  of  one 
of  God's  Female  Servants.^  But  we  have 
reason  to  rejoice  that  the  gospel  is  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation,  whether  it  is  preached 

by  a  D.  D.,  or  a  common   Street  Beggar 

And  still  more,  it  is  declared  :— "  God  hath 
chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world,  to 
confound  the  Wise;  and  God  hath  chosen 
the  Weak  Things  of  the  world,  to  confound 
the  things  which  are  mighty."!  While  she 
remained  at  Holmes'  Hole,  she  held  her 
meetings  principally  at  private  houses  ;  and 
by  a  strict  christian  deportment,  she  gathered 
many  worthy  friends  around  her,  many  of 
whom,  will  remember  her  labors  there  with 
gratitude  and  thanksgiving  to  God. 

Says  a  friend  :~"  I  expect  to  see  her  in  a 

*  It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  after  spending  much  time  in 
another  section  of  the  Island,  and  witnessing  many  hope- 
ful conversions,  and  after  gathering  around  her  a  large  circle 
of  christian  friends,  who  were  attached  to  her,  and  that 
when  about  leaving,  she  remarked  to  a  friend,  "I  have  no 

pastor  to  send  them,  and  Br.  B must  take  charge  of 

the  LAMBS  of  the  ^ocA. 

t  1  Cor.  i.  27. 


few  days.  *  Salome  will  stand  in  her  lot  and 
place  !  Her  preaching  here  was  powerful. 
The  aged,  the  middle-aged  and  younir,  of 
both  sexes,  and  from  all  ranks  in  society, 
were  awakened  and  led  to  seek  an  interest 
in  Christ." 

On  the  25th  of  July  she  left  Holmes'  Hole, 
and  went  to  North  Shore,  another  part  of 
Tisbury,  about  four  miles  from  the  last  named 
place.  The  circumstances  connected  with 
her  going  to  North  Shore,  are  briefly  these  : 
Having  heard  of  her  preaching  at  Holmes' 
Hole,  several  individuals  from  there,  came 
down  to  attend  the  meetings  ;  and  after 
meeting,  being  urgently  requested  to  visit 
that  place,  she  consented  to  go.  In  view  of 
going  there  she  remarked  to  a  friend  : — 

"  It  is  God  that  calls,  and / must  go!" 

The  remaining  part  of  the  year  1831,  and 
a  portion  of  1832  and  '33,  she  spent  in  preach- 
ing, and  holding  meetings  at  the  North  Shore 
and  in  the  adjoining  section.  The  Lord  was 
with  her,  and  witnessed  her  labors,  by  giving 
her  souls,  as  seals  of  her  ministry.  There  is 
nothing  more  encouraging  to  the   christian 

*  The  individual  alluded  to  here,  is  a  firm,  though  con- 
scientious believer  in  the  second  advent  of  Christ  in  1843, 


84 


MEMOIR 


THE     PREACHER. 


85 


minister,  than  to  see  the  sinner  turning  from 
the  error  of  his  ways,  and  becoming  a  devo- 
ted christian— beloved  in  the  church,  and 
useful  in  the  world!  The  sacred  penman 
says  : — *«  Let  him  know,  that  he  which  con- 
verteth  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways, 
shall  save  a  soul  from  death,  and  hide  a  mul- 
titude of  sins." — James  v.  20. 

While  at  the  North  Shore,  she  generally 
preached  at  the  school  house,  but  sometimes 
at  a  grove  near  by,  in  order  to  accommodate 
the  large  number  who  came  to  hear. 

The  grove  is  a  delightful  spot,  fitted  up 
with  seats,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  meet- 
ings during  the  summer  months.  On  one 
occasion,  while  preaching  at  this  place,  in 
speaking  of  the  tree  under  which  she  then 
stood,  she  said,— "When  my  body  sleeps  in 
the  dust,  this  tree  will  speak."  This  remark 
is  now  distinctly  remembered  by  those  who 
then  heard  her,  and  in  1842,  nine  years  after- 
wards, when  a  meeting  of  a  similar  character 
was  again  to  be  held  there ;  they  were  par- 
ticular  in  selecting  the  same  tree  for  the 
preachers'  stand,  and  the  fact  of  her  hav- 
ing preached  there,  was  several  times  men- 


tioned. How  pleasant  a  spot  is  often  rendered 
for  having  been  the  resort  of  departed  friends. 
On  another  occasion,  (Sabbath  morning,) 
as  she  came  down  from  her  chamber,  she 
was  in  tears  on  account  of  her  trials  of  mind. 
But  she  preached  all  day  at  the  grove  ;  in 
the  forenoon  from  a  passage  in  the  twenty' 
fifth  chapter  of  Matthew,  and  in  the  after- 
noon from  Acts  xxvi.  13 — "  At  mid-day,  O 
king  !  I  saw  in  the  way,  a  light  from  heaven, 
above  the  brightness  of  the  Sww."  Says  the 
individual  who  related  this  circumstance  — 
**  I  seldom  ever  listened  to  a  discourse,  with 
so  profound  attention  as  on  this  occasion. 
I  should  not  hesitate  in  pronouncing  it,  evan- 
gelical, beautiful  and  sublime  !"  *   ^ 

The  same  individual  heard  her  preach 
again,  a  short  time  after  from  a  text  in  Isaiah. 

The  arrangement  of  her  discourses,  was 
usually  very  clear,  and  her  divisions  dis- 
tinctly marked,  but  as  they  were  mental  rather 
than  written,  we  have  not  been  able  to  give 
much  in  relation  to  the  matter.     But  in  this 

*  This  was  related  by  Mr.  Anthony  Luce,  a  gentleman 
who  is  blind :  and  individuals  of  this  class,  usually  hear 
more  critically,  than  those  who  are  blessed  v^ith  perfect 
organs. 

8» 


86 


M  E  31  O  I  R  . 


THE     PREACHER. 


87 


instance  Mr.  Luce  gave  us  what  he  thinks  a 
correct  skeleton  ;  and  as  we  have  not  hereto- 
fore, and  shall  not  probably  hereafter  be  able 
to  give  a  specimen,  we  will  now  insert  it. 

"And  a  highway  shall  be  there,  and  a 
way,  and  it  shall  be  called.  The  way  of  holi- 
ness^ — Isaiah  xxxv.  8. 

She  divided  the  subject  in  the  following- 
manner:  viz. — 

I.  She  spoke  of  the  Highway. 
Christ  is  the  great  Highway, 

II.  She  considered  the  way  to  the  High- 
way. 

We  are  led  to  the  Highway, 

(1.)  By  Consideration* 

(2.)  By  Prayer. 

(3.)  By  Faith, 

(4.)  By  Repentance. 

(5.)  By  living  Holy  Lives,  &c. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter 
written  to  Ehzabeth  Lisconi,  and  will  show 
more  fully  the  success  attending  her  preach- 
ing this  summer.     It  was  written  at 

Tisbury,  September  dth,  183L 

«*  Bear  Eliza:—*  *  ♦  *  *  After  camp-meet- 
ing I  spent  three  weeks  in  East  Falmouth, 


and  from  there  I  came  to  the  Vineyard,  but 
did  not  expect  to  stop  more  than  one  or  two 
weeks.  At  the  first  meeting  I  had  in  this 
place,  I  felt  an  uncommon  anxiety  for  the 
people,  yet  I  left  the  neighborhood,  after 
spending  one  Sabbath.  ******!  then 
went  to  the  harbor,  *  which  is  about  four 
miles,  but  the  people  followed  me  in  my  im- 
agination, and  I  had  no  rest,  till  a  few  days 
after,  when  a  man  came  for  me  to  go  back. 
*****  At  the  first  meeting  I  held  after  re- 
turning, one  backslider  was  reclaimed,  and 
I  have  thought  every  week  since,  that  I  should 
leave  the  next,  but  the  time  has  never  come 
when  I  dared  to  go.  I  have  now  been  here 
two  months,  and  there  is  a  greater  prospect 
of  my  staying  than  ever.  The  cloud  which  I 
saw  the  first  day  I  was  here,  has  been  in- 
creasing ever  since,  and  a  number  of  back- 
sliders have  been  reclaimed,  one  soul  con- 
verted, and  several  more  anxiously  inquiring 
to  know  what  they  shall  do  to  be  saved. 
I  have  been  called  to  converse  with  one,  who 
was  so  deeply  distressed  that  she  was  obliged 
to  leave  her  school  to  come  and  see  me ;  and 
though  she  went  away  as  she  came,  yet  I 

*  Holmes'  Hole. 


■ 


i\ 


88 


MEMOIR. 


THE     PREACHER. 


89 


believe  that  she  is  near  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
I  have  had  some  pretty  severe  trials  since  I 
have  been  here,  yet  no  more  than  has  been 
for  my  good.  **###!  shall  wait  with  impa- 
tience to  hear  from  you. 

Yours  as  ever, 

Salome  Lincoln." 
The  young  lady  referred  to  in  the  above 
letter,  was  probably  Emily  Look,  now  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Leonard  Luce.     She  was  the 
first  individual  that   was   converted    at   the 
North  Shore,  under  Sister  Lincoln's  preach- 
ing.    The  meeting  where  she  was  awakened 
was  held  at  Mr.  Edmund  Luce's,  sometime 
in   the  month  of  September  183L*   While 
Sister  Salome  was  speaking,  her  mind  was 
so  powerfully  impressed,  that  she  lost  her 
self-control,  and  fell  from  her  seat.     Sister 
Lincoln  stopped  preaching,  and  went  to  her, 
and  commenced  praying.     She  exhorted  her 

to  say  : — 

■•#■■ 

"  Here  Lord  I  give  myself  away, 
'Tis  all  that  I  can  do." 

The   next    evening,    (Saturday,)    another 
meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Br.  David 

*  It  might  have  been  in  1830,  though  Sister  Luce  thinks 
It  was  in  1831. 


Butler.  Miss  Look  was  still  in  great  distress, 
but  before  the  meeting  closed,  her  burden  left 
her,  and  soon  she  was  singing  praises  and 
thanksgiving  to  him  who  had  delivered  her 
soul  from  the  gall  of  bitterness  and  the  bonds 
of  iniquity. 

Sister  Luce  is  still  living  in  the  enjoyment 
of  religion ;  and  among  all  the  converts 
awakened  under  her  preaching,  none  seemed 
to  produce  a  deeper  effect  upon  the  mind  of 
Salome,  as  may  be  seen  from  a  letter  written 
by  her ;  the  following  is  an  extract :  * 

Raynham,  May  15^^,  1831. 
"  Dear  Sister  Emily : — It  was  with  pleasure 
that  I  received  your  letter.  I  was  glad  to 
hear  that  you  were  trying  to  serve  the  Lord. 
O  Sister,  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  your  pros- 
perity !  You  was  the  first  I  saw  converted 
while  I  was  on  the  Vineyard  ;  and  although 
young,  may  you  be  a  pattern  of  piety  to 
those  around  you,  and  while  others  may  treat 
the  subject  with  indifference,  may  it  not  dis- 

*  This  letter  had  evidentlv  been  read  and  re-read,  till  it 
was  literally  worn  up,  so  much  so  that  it  could  never  have 
had  a  place  in  this  memoir,  had  not  the  author  took  a  copy, 
as  Sister  Luce  read  a  part,  and  from  memory,  having  almost 
committed  it,  rehearsed  the  rest. 


I 


90 


MEMOIR. 


a 


courage  you  in  your  path  to  heaven.     Emily, 
be  determined    to    be   a    cliristian   in    every 
sense  of  tlie  word  !     Pray  and  watch  over 
your  deportment;  and  in  order  for  this,  let 
me   advise  you   to  spend  a  short  season   in 
prayer  every   morning.     Tins   will   prepare 
you  for  the  employment  of  the  day,  and  will 
enable  you  to  enter  upon  them  with  a  suitable 
frame  of  mind.     Be  determined  to  do  nothing 
that  you  cannot  feel  that  God  approves ;  and 
never  fear  to  be  singular,  when  the  customs 
of  those  around  you  are  in  opposition  to  the 
spirit  of  religion,   but   let   the    world   know 
that  you  are  determined  to  be  the  Lord's.  — 
And  may  he  bless  you  abundantly,  and  give 
you  strength  to  resist  every  temptation,  for 
am  sensible  you   will  have   many.     D^ar 
Emily,  my  heart  almost  bleeds,  when  I  think 
of  your  youth,  and  the  trials  to  which  you 
will  be  exposed,  especially  while  the  profes- 
sors of  the  religion   of  Jesus  are  in  a  hike- 
warm  state.  Should  you  backslide,  and  wound 
the    innocent    cause  of  the  Dear  Redeemer, 
it  would  rend  my  poor  heart.     Yes,  I  should 
much  rather  hear  that  you  had  gone  to  your 
long  home  in  the  triumphs  of  faith,  than  that 
you   had   renounced   your  belief  in  Christ. 


THE    PREACHER. 


91 


But  I  will  hope  better  things.  I  trust  that 
should  I  ever  be  permitted  to  come  that  way 
again,  I  shall  find  you  growing  in  grace,  and 
in  the  knoicleclge  of  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Christ 
Jesus ;  and  should  we  never  be  permitted  to 
meet  on  earth,  may  we  meet,  where  parting 
will  be  known  no  more  !  *  *  *  *  ^  I  hardly 
know  where  to  close,  for  when  I  get  to  think- 
ing about  the  Vineyard  people,  I  xnink  of 
so  many  that  I  want  to  see,  and  so  much 
that  I  want  to  say,  that  I  hardly  know  where 
to  stop.     But  I  must  close. 

Yours  affectionately, 

Salome  Lincoln. 

Soon  after  the  conversion  of  Emily  Look 
another  individual  —  an  intelligent  young 
man  was  awakened  ;  it  was  at  an  evening 
meeting,  held  in  the  school  house.  He  had 
just  returned  from  sea,  and  went  to  hear  her, 
and  after  sermon,  Sister  Lincoln  gave  an  in- 
vitation for  those  who  desired  special  prayers, 
to  arise.  He  arose,  remarking  at  the  same 
time,  that  he  did  not  do  it  from  any  partic- 
ular impression,  but  from  a  settled  conviction 
of  duty.  It  would  be  better,  I  apprehend, 
for  the  christian  community,  if  every  one 
acted  from  this  principle.     If  this  were  the 


I 


*% 


'n 


*Jt>0 


MEMOIR. 


THE     PREACHER. 


93 


ti 


case,  the  church  would  have  less  occasion  to 
mourn  over  backsliders.  He  afterwards  pro- 
fessed a  hope  in  Christ,  and  is  now  a  worthy 
member  of  His  visible  Church. 

Another  fact  is  worthy  of  notice.  While 
at  the  North  Shore,  she  formed  a  Female 
Enquiring  Meeting.  These  meetings  have 
been  continued  until  the  present  time,  and 
have  resulted  in  good. 

Her  labors  were  not  confined  to  the  North 
Shore,  nor  exclusively  to  any  particular  de- 
nomination. She  was  not  possessed  with  nar- 
row contracted  sectarian  views,  it  was  not 
congenial  with  her  nature.  Whenever,  or 
wherever  she  found  the  image  of  Christ,  soul 
mingled  with  soul,  and  to  such  a  one,  she 
felt  that  she  was  bound  by  a  chord  stronger 
than  earthly,  and  by  ties  dearer  than  those 
which  unite  parties,  sects  and  denominations ; 
and  with  such  a  one,  though  she  might  differ 
on  some  minor  points,  she  could  heartily 
join,  in  carrying  forward  all  the  benevolent 
enterprises  of  the  day.  Her's  was  a  Divine 
mission ;  her  credentials  she  received  from 
the  Prince  of  princes,  and  to  his  tribunal 
alone  she  stood  accountable.  Those  who 
are  so  happy  as  to  get  to  heaven,  will  find 


but  one  sect,  one  sentiment,  and  one  feelinsf. 
There  we  shall  all  be  united  in  enhancing  the 
bHss  of  paradise. 

As  opportunity  offered  while  on  the  Vine- 
yard, she  went  out  into  other  places,  and 
before  the  close  of  the  year,  she  had  been 
nearly  over  the  island ;  and  on  several  occa- 
sions received  flattering  invitations  t(j  preach 
in  societies  of  a  difterent  denomination  from 
the  one  to  which  she  belonged.  The  follow- 
ing will  serve  as  a  specimen  : 

TisBURY,  September  ^dilS^l. 
The  undersigned,  being  a  committee,  legally 
authorized  to  supply  the  pulpit  in  the  Con- 
gregationalist  Meeting-house,  of  Tisbury  with 
a  Teacher,  would  be  very  glad  to  hear  Miss 
Lincoln  preach  next  Sabbath,  or  any  other 
convenient  time. 

We  are  very  respectfully  yours. 

C.  G.  A 

M.  M . 

Among  other  places  where  she  preached 
on  the  Vineyard,  was  Edgarton  and  Chil- 
mark.*    She  preached  at  Edgarton  sometime 

*  In  relation  to  her  labors  at  Chilmark,  we  know  nothing 
definite,  more  than  that  she  preached  there  at  the  residence 
of  a  Mr.  Luc^.  We  find  notice  of  her  being  ai  Edgarton  sev- 
eral diflTerent  periods. 

9 


if    M 


94 


MEMOIR. 


THE     PREACHER. 


95 


I 


between  the  first  and  middle  of  December ; 
but  nothing  more,  than  that  she  was  counte- 
nanced by  the  collector  of  the  port,  can  be 
accurately  stated,  as  to  the  success  which 
attended  her  visits,  but  we  may  reasonably 
suppose  that  heaven  smiled  on  her  untiring 
exertions  for  the  salvation  of  immortal  souls 
here,  as  well  as  in  other  places.  The  air  she 
breathed  on  this  secluded  spot,  was  wafted 
from  the  atmosphere  of  heaven.  It  was  un- 
tainted by  party  corruption,  and  unimpreg- 
nated  by  the  damp  vapors  of  the  lower  re- 
gions. 

-  Party  feeUngs,  and  the  divisions  in  the 
church,  have  done  more  to  promote  Infidel- 
ity than  all  the  combined  efforts  of  Hume, 
Paine,  Voltaire,  and  a  host  of  others.  There 
will  be  no  jarring  or  party  strife  in  heaven, 
but  in  the  language  of  Dr.  Dwight : — **  The 
happiness  of  heaven  is  not  only  unmingled, 
and  consummate  ;  not  only  uninterrupted  and 
immortal ;  but  ever  progressive,'*'' 

Salome  has  gone  to  the  haven  of  eter- 
nal rest,  where  many  of  the  ransomed,  not 
only  from  Martha's  Vineyard,  but  elsewhere, 
will  soon  Join  her.  She  stands  at  the  portal 
of  heaven,  ready  to  hail  their  happy  spirits, 


as  freed  from  the  clogs  of  earthy  one  by  one, 
they  take  their  flight  away  to  the  blessed 
mansions  of  the  Saints. 

With  the  close  of  this  year  (1831)  Salome 
left  the  Vineyard,  and  returned  to  East  Fal- 
mouth, and  from  thence  to  Raynham,  to  visit 
her  friends. 

Martha's  Vineyard  is  separated  from  the 
main  land  by  the  Vineyard  sound  ;  *  and  all 
communication  to  and  from,  is  carried  on 
with  boats.  The  mail  is  transported  in  a 
ferry-boat  which  runs  from  Falmouth  to 
Holmes'  Hole.  It  sometimes  happens,  that 
though  the  sea  is  perfectly  calm  in  the  harbor, 
yet  before  you  have  fairly  made  out  from 
land,  you  find  yourself  tossed  about  in  the 
midst  of  rough  water. 

It  was  in  this  boat  that  Salome  crossed 
when  she  left  the  Vineyard.  When  they 
started  from  the  wharf,  Mr.  Ray  the  ferry- 
man, observed,  that  he  had  not  had  so  good  a 
prospect  of  a  pleasant  voyage  for  more  than 
two  months.  Besides  Salome,  there  was  one 
other  passenger.  They  had  hot  proceeded 
far,   however,  before  the   prospect  entirely 

*  The  distance  across  the  sound,  from  Falmouth  to 
Holmes'  Hole  is  about  six  miles. 


96 


MEMOIR. 


THE     PREACHER. 


97 


changed — the  wind  commenced  blowing  se- 
verely— the  sea  was  boisterous,  and  the  pros- 
pect anything  but  encouraging.  The  waves 
dashed  so  high,  and  beat  against  the  boat 
with  such  violence,  that  they  found  it  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  keep  their  seats.  They  arrived 
at  Falmouth  about  sunset,  having  been  tossed 
about  on  the  briny  deep  for  the  most  part  of 
the  afternoon.  She  says,  "  I  expected  to  have 
had  to  remain  at  Falmouth  until  the  next 
morning,  but  as  good  fortune  would  have  it, 
five  minutes  after  I  landed,  Bro.  Kimball, 
from  East  Falmouth  with  a  horse  and  sleigh, 
called  for  me,  and  carried  me  directly  there." 
Thus  closed  her  labors  for  the  year  1831  ; 
and  in  closing  this  chapter,  I  remark,  that 
but  {ew  individuals  have  been  more  incessant 
in  their  exertion  to  do  good,  than  Sister  Sa- 
lome. And  though  oftentimes  wearied  with 
the  monotonous  round  of  duty,  and  often- 
times severely  tried,  yet  she  could  respond 
with  the  poet — 

"  There  is  a  home  of  peaceful  rest, 

To  mourning  wanderers  given  ; 
There  is  a  tear  for  souls  distressed, 

A  balm  for  every  wounded  breast  — 
'Tis  found  alone  —  tn  Heaven  !" 


Besides  preaching  a  large  number  of  ser- 
mons, and  attending  other  meetings,  she  also 
labored  with  her  hands,  in  order  to  supply 
herself  with  the  necessary  articles  of  apparel, 
and  to  meet  the  incidentary  expenses  attend- 
ing her  travels,  and  in  every  way  strove  to  be 
useful  in  the  cause  of  Christ  by  winning  souls 
to  him. 


I 


9« 


98 


THE     PREACHER. 


99 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  FEMALE  PREACHER. 
Concluded. 

"Whosoever  dolh  not  bear  his  cross,  and  come  after 
me,  cannot  be  my  disciple."— CAm^ 

Scenes  of  love  and  sacred  friendship, 

T  will  bid  you  all  farewell ; 
O'er  the  earth's  wide  face  to  wander, 

News  of  Jesus'  love  to  tell ! 

In  this  life,  we  anticipate  much  happiness 
from  the  future,  and  eagerly  grasp  at  objects 
not  yet  attained,  and  ere  we  reach  them,  they 
have  like  the  empty  bubble,  quickly  vanished 
away — the  main  happiness  being  derived  from 
anticipation. 

Reader  is  not  this  strictly  true  ? 

How  many  sleepless  nights  you  have  spent 
in  meditating  upon  some  scene  of  plea- 
sure, which  you  fondly  anticipated  would 
yield  a  full  cup  of  happiness  ;  but  alas  !  when 
the  day,  and  the  hour  arrived  how  often  has 
some  trivial  event,  frustrated  all  your  plans, 
and  sent  you  away  sadly  disappointed  ! 

**  But  why  is  it  so  ?"  you  ask. 


In  reply,  I  would  answer,  it  arises  from  the 
unstable  naUtre  of  aH  earthly  objects,  and 
their  insufficiency,  without  the  aid  of  a  higher 
and  nobler  principle,  of  imparting  true  hap- 
piness. 

Moses  understood  this,  when  he  chose  to 
suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  pre- 
ferringthe  reproach  of  Christ,  to  the  treasures 
of  Egypt.  * 

The  three  Pious  Jews,  understood  this, 
when  they  chose  to  obey  the  King  of  Kings, 
and  suffer  the  scorching  flames  of  a  fiery 
FURNACE,  seven  times  heated,  rather  than  to 
bow  down  to  a  wicked  monarch,  t 

Daniel  understood  this,  when  he  chose  a 
den  of  Lions,  to  the  honors  of  the  Medo- 
Persian  Empire,  and  to  serve  the  God  of 
heaven,  rather  than  his  impious  king.  J 

The  Prophets  understood  this,  as  they 
peaceably  yielded  their  lives  between  the  tem- 
ple and  altar,  ^  rather  than  to  conform  to  the 
wicked  customs  of  their  backslidden  nation. 

Stephen  understood  this,  when  he  sweetly 

*  Heb.  xi.  24,  25. 
t  Daniel  iii.  Chapter. 
t  Daniel  vi.  1-24. 
S  Acts  vii.  52.    Matthew  xxiii.  84-11. 


100 


MEMOIR. 


breathed  out  his  life,  in  the  midst  of  his  per- 
secutors, rather  than  cease  to  testify  of  Christ 
and  him  crucified.  * 

All  the  martyrs,  primitive  christians,  and  the 
true  church,  understand,  that  in  order  to  be- 
come a  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  meet  with 
Divine  Favor,  and  enjoy  solid,  unfading  hap- 
piness, they  must  bid  farewell  to  all  the  sin- 
ful pleasures  of  the  world  —  be  willing  to 
bear  his  cross,  and  to  have  their  names  cast 
out  as  evil ;  and  if  necessary  to  go  to  the 
stake — the  scaffold — to  the  burning  flames^ 
and  in  a  word,  to  suffer  martyrdom  in  all  its 
varied  forms,  rather  than  sacrifice  truth  on 
the  altar  of  error.  Here  is  the  basis  of  true 
happiness — it  is  a  choice  pearl  of  great  price, 
and  is  found  alone  in  religion.  He  that  seeks 
to  find  it  in  the  world,  will  seek  in  vain. 

Our  beloved  Sister,  whose  memoir  we  are 
transmitting,  understood  this,  when  she  at 
last  yielded  to  duty,  (though  she  knew  it 
would  make  her  unpopular)  and  began  pub- 
licly to  testify  of  Christ,  and  him  crucified. 

But  I  am  digressing,  and  to  return : — On 
the  first  of  January  1832,  we  find  Salome 
again  visiting  at  Raynham ;  but  by  the  fourth 

*  Acts  vii.  54-60. 


THE     PREACHER. 


101 


of  February,  she  was  mingling  her  prayers, 
with  the  prayers  of  her  friends  on  Martha's 
Vineyard. 

The  year  1832,  is  one  that  will  long  be  re- 
membered in  this  country,  on  account  of  the 
cholera,  which  to  some  extent  raged,  spread- 
ing terror  through  the.  land.  However,  it 
was  not  so  severely  felt  in  New  England,  as 
was  generally  feared. 

When  Sister  Lincoln  arrived  at  Holmes' 
Hole,  a  ship  from  Europe  was  lying  there, 
on  board  of  which,  two  individuals  had  died 
of  this  dreadful  malady,  and  in  consequence 
of  this,  as  might  be  expected,  much  excite- 
ment prevailed  over  the  island.  In  life,  we 
are  in  the  midst  of  death  ;  but  so  long  as  we 
enjoy  health  and  its  attendant  blessings,  we 
have  but  iew  fears.  The  sailor  in  calm 
weather,  may  vainly  boast  of  his  daring  ex- 
ploits, and  tell  how  he  can  brave  the  dangers 
of  the  deep  ;  but  let  the  scene  suddenly 
change,  let  clouds  gather — the  winds  arise — 
the  tempest  increase,  and  the  waves  roll  moun- 
tain high,  tossing  his  frail  bark  about  with  un- 
manageable fury,  threatening  to  engulph  him 
in  immediate  destruction  ;  and  you  no  longer 
hear  him  tell  of  his  courage  and  skill,  but  his 


!i 


102 


THE     PREACHER. 


103 


MEMOIR. 


cry  is,  "  What  shall  I  do  to  he  saved  V^  And 
this  feeling  is  not  peculiar  alone  to  the  sailor, 
but  it  is  witnessed  in  all  the  varied  walks  of 
life.  Let  danger  approach,  and  let  the  last 
earthly  refuge  be  taken  from  us,  and  what- 
ever may  have  been  our  former  principles, 
we  seek  protection  aioue  in  God. 

About   the    eighteenth  of  March,    (1832,) 
Sister   Lincoln    was    the    happy   witness   of 
another   hopeful   conversion  to  God.      The 
subject  of  Divine  favor  in  this  instance,  was, 
Mary  C.  Cottell,  wife  of  Capt.  Charles  Cot- 
tell,  at  the  North  Shore,     She  relates  the  cir- 
cumstance as  follows  : — "  When  I  first  heard 
this  child  of  God,  in  1832, 1  was  in  a  state  of 
sin  and  unbelief ;  but  as  she  set  forth  the  love 
of  God  to  man — the  beauties  of  His  holy  re- 
ligion— and  His  readiness  to  save  unto  the 
uttermost  all  who  came  unto  him,  I  felt  that 
I  was  a  lost  sinner,  and  destitute  of  a  hope 
in  Christ.     But  by  Sister  Lincoln,  I  was  led 
to  the  Savior  as  my  only  hope,  and  through 
her  instrumentality,  and  the  blessing  of  God, 
I  was  converted.     Often  has  her  supplicating 
voice  been  raised  for  me,  and    not  for  me 
only,  but  for  many  others,  who  were  led  to 
embrace  the  Savior,  through  her  preaching." 


Many  more  such  witnesses  might  be  gathered 
had  we  time,  and  means  to  devote  to  it,  but 
were  we  to  multiply  them  here,  it  would  add 
but  little  interest  to  this  work  ;  and  it  is  my 
aim  to  avoid  repetition  as  far  as  practicable, 
but  in  a  work  of  this  character  it  is  impossi- 
ble entirely  to  do  so. 

From  a  letter  dated  April  18,  1832,  we 
learn  that  Sister  Lincoln  was  at  Edgarton, 
Martha's  Vineyard,  waiting  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  go  to  Nantucket. 

Nantucket  is  an  island  ten  miles  east  of 
Martha's  Vineyard,  and  tioenty-four  south  of 
Cape  Cod.  It  is  a  place  of  considerable 
business,  and  in  1840  contained  9,512  inhab- 
itants. In  1820  there  were  belonging  to 
Nantucket  seventy-tioo  whale  ships,  whose 
burden  together,  exceeded  twenty-one  thous' 
and,  six  hundred  tons. 

While  waiting  at  Edgarton,  she  spent  her 
time  in  holding  meetings.  She  went  to  Nan- 
tucket in  a  packet ;  they  started  from  the 
wharf  about  midnight,  and  the  next  morning 
at  sunrise  arrived  at  the  place  of  destination, 
and  having  never  been  there  before,  she  was 
a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  ;  but  did  not  re- 
main such  long,  as  the  brethren  learning  that 


104 


MEMOIR. 


she   was  on   the  island  sought   her  out,   and 
gave  her  a  home  among  them  while  she  staid. 

She  remained  at  Nantucket  several  weeks, 
and  preached  at  various  places,  and  among 
the~rest,  one  evening  at  the  African  Chapel ;  * 
in  speaking  of  this  meeting,  she  says, — '*The 
house  was  well  filled  with  a  respectable  and 
attentive  congregation,  about  half  of  which, 
were  whites.  To  me,  it  was  a  novel  scene 
to  look  into  the  galleries,  and  behold  it  filled 
with  black  singers.  There  is  a  flourishing 
society  on  the  island,  made  up  of  colored 
people.  I  have  been  to  one  of  their  Class 
Meetings,  their  leader  is  a  man  of  color  ;  and 
it  is  interesting  to  witness  the  deep  toned 
piety,  and  union  of  feelings,  which  seems  to 
prevail  among  them." 

Amid  all  the  sweets  of  life,  Sister  Lincoln 
tasted  much  of  the  bitter ;  and  it  is  truly 
surprising  to  see  the  pains  some  individuals 
will  take,  to  render  the  condition  of  those 
around  them  unhappy.  I  do  not  speak  in 
particular  reference  to  Nantucket — I  never 

*  Says  her  husband,— "Salome  was  a  friend  to  the  col- 
ored man,  having  early  manifested  that  friendship,  by  uniting 
herself  with  an  Anti-Slavery  Society,  while  they  were  in 
their  inlancy,  and  carrying  out  its  principles  through  life." 


I 


THE     PREACHER. 


105 


was  there,  but  I  do  not  imagine  they  are  worse 
in  that  place,  if  as  had,  as  in  many  other. 

Ouv  cluirch — Our  7ninister — and  our  prm- 
ciples,  with  many,  seems  to  be  of  more  im- 
portance than  HOLINESS  of  heart !  And  what 
is  still  worse,  this  is  emphatically  so  with 
many,  who  are  professedly  pious.  How 
long  such  a  state  of  things  will  exist,  the 
Lord  only  knows  ! 

I  repeat  it  again,  and  I  wish  it  distinctly 
understood,  that  I  do  not  make  these  remarks 
particularly  in  reference  to  Nantucket.  Let 
not  the  reader  suppose  that  because  Sister 
Lincoln  met  with  slight  opposition  there,  that 
the  inhabitants  are  sinners  above  every  other 
place ;  for  had  she  never  met  with  greater 
trials,  her  life  would  have  been  compara- 
tively free  from  sorrow  !  Then  let  us  not  go 
abroad  to  find  this  abominable  ivickedness,  but 
let  us  come  right  home — to  our  own  commu- 
nity— to  OUR  OWN  HEARTS,  and  if  we  are  free 
from  it  ourselves,  we  are  truly  fortunate ! 
May  the  Lord  grant  it !  That  Salome  met 
with  some  opposition  at  Nantucket,  is  evident 
from  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  written 
home.  Perhaps  it  might  as  well  be  omitted, 
but  as  it  is  short,  and  expressive  of  her  feel- 

10 


106 


MEMOIR. 


ings,  I  will  insert  it.     She  says, — *' There  ap- 
pears to  be  considerable  opposition  manifested 

towards  me  here,  by  the church.     But 

last  evening  curiosity  or  something  else, 
prompted  them  to  give  up  their  own  meeting, 
and  the  preacher  with  all  his  people  attended 
with  us.  However,  they  manifested  no  dis- 
position to  unite,  as  after  preaching  not  one 
of  them  had  any  thing  to  say.  God  knows 
their  motives — I  will  not  judge  them.  It  was 
a  severe  trial  of  my  faith — but  I  expected 
trials  when  I  started,  I  expected  it  would 
cost  all  to  gain  Heaven,  and  if  I  gain  it  at  last, 
I  shall  be  richly  compensated  for  all  I  have 
suffered  here  I — I  shall  then  come  off  con- 
queror, and  more  than  conqueror  through 
him  that  hath  loved  me,  and  given  himself 
for  me  !  " 

Soon  after  leaving  Nantucket  she  returned 
to  East  Falmouth,  and  from  thence  to  Ware- 
ham  where  she  staid  one  week,  and  held 
meetings.  She  speaks  of  the  meetings  as 
not  being  attended  with  any  particular  inter- 
est. From  thence  she  went  to  Rochester, 
and  stopped  one  night,  and  the  next  day  in 
company  with  Elder  Johnston,  and  Sister 
Burgess,  went  to  Rehoboth  to  attend  a  four 


THE     PREACHER. 


107 


days  meeting.  At  Rehoboili  she  met  with 
many  of  her  old  friends  and  acquaintance, 
it  was  a  pleasant  meeting  !  Such  occasions 
are  often  rendered  delightful,  as  they  give  us 
an  opportunity  to  converse  upon  the  scenes 
of  former  days  ;  and  the  mind  is  so  con- 
stituted, that  it  loves  to  dwell  upon  the  past 
as  well  as  the  future,  especially  on  such  parts 
as  have  rendered  happiness  ; — from  Rehoboth 
she  returned  home,  having  now  been  gone 
several  months. 

She  remained  at  home  till  September,  and 
took  several  short  journeys — preaching  Christ 
wherever  she  went,  both  in  her  own  neigh- 
borhood, and  in  the  adjoining  towns.  Sep- 
tember 12th,  she  received  an  invitation  to 
visit  several  societies  in  Connecticut ;  whether 
she  complied  with  the  request  or  not,  the 
author  is  unable  to  say.  The  following  is  a 
copy : — 

Rochester,  September  12,  1832, 

'*  Dear  Sister  : — The  brethren  in  different 
societies  in  Connecticut,  are  anxious  to  have 
you  come  through  this  section  this  fall. — 
Should  you  come  by  week  after  next,  you 
will  have  an  opportunity  to  ride  to  the  Ver- 
mont Conference.     If  providence  opens  the 


108 


MEMOIR. 


way,  please  to  inquire  for  Br.  Baker,  Neio 
Hartford;  Ethan  Walker,  Luther  Discall, 
Goshen  ;  and  Josiah  Brunsou,  John  May,  and 
Thomas  Morgan,  KenU 

Respectfully  yours,,  ^c. 

Ethan  Walker. 

For  the  remaining  part  of  this  year,  and 
the  most  of  1833,  we  shall  be  able  to  say 
but  little  in  relation  to  the  labors  of  our  de- 
parted Sister ;  but  probably  she  spent  the 
time  in  preaching  on  the  Cape,  at  Martha's 
Vineyard,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  her 
father's. 

In  the  spring  of  1833  she  w^as  at  Tisbury, 
where  she  had  been  through  the  winter 
months  ;  but  soon  after  she  left,  and  never 
returned,  except  in  one  or  two  instances  to 
visit  and  attend  a  camp  meeting,  which  I 
shall  hereafter  notice.  Her  labors  on  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard  were  appreciated,  especially 
at  the  North  Shore.  She  was  respected  in 
every  section  of  the  island,  and  beloved  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends. 

Passing  over  the  events  of  1833,  we  now 
come  to  another  important  era  in  her  life.  — 
From  the  last  of  May  1834,  to  the  middle  of 
August,  she  preached  in  Boston,  and  the  ad- 


THE     PREACHER. 


109 


joining  towns,  and  from  the  recommendation 
written  by  Elder  Norris  ;  we  learn  she  was 
favored  with  large  congregations  ;  *  and  the 
approbation  of  those  who  heard.  She  was 
here  at  two  seasons,  fii^t  in  May,  and  then 
again  in  July  ;  she  preached  for  the  Re- 
formed Methodist  in  Bedford  Street,  and 
had  made  her  arrangements  to  go  to  Low- 
ell, but  as  the  President  of  the  Conference 
advised  her  to  defer  it  till  some  other  time  ; 
she  put  it  off.  She  remained  in  Boston  about 
two  weeks,  and  preached  twelve  discourses 
besides  attending  other  meetings. 

After  leaving  Boston,  she  made  immediate 
preparation  to  return  to  the  Cape,  to  spend 
the  season ;  her  cousin  Nancy  M.  Philips, 
(now  White)  was  expecting  to  go  with  her, 
but  providence  seemed  to  order  otherwise, 
as  after  they  had  got  every  thing  in  readiness, 
an  individual  from  South  Bridgewater  came 
after  her  to  go  there  and  preach ;  accord- 
ingly she  relinquished  the  design  of  going  to 
the  Cape,  and  returned  with  him. 

East,  West,  North  and  South  Bridgewater, 
were  formerly  one  town,  situated  on  the 
north  western  boundary  of  Plymouth  County. 

*  See  Page  42. 

10* 


4 

"111 


m 


n 


110 


MEMOIR. 


It  was  first  divided  into  four  parishes,  and 
afterwards  into  fovr  dhthict  towns.  South 
Bridgewater  retainin<^  the  oriifinal  name,  and 
the  others  taking  the  name  East,  West,  and 
North  Bridgewater.  • 

At  Bridgewatcr  she  preached  in  a  meeting- 
house belonging  to  the  Universahst.  An 
anecdote  respecting  her  labors  there,  may 
not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader. 

One  evening  after  she  had  concluded  lier 
sermon,  she  gave  an  invitation  for  others 
who  might  wish,  to  make  improvement ;  and 
accordingly  a  gentlemen  who  was  then  under 
the  influence  of  drink,  immediately  arose  and 
began  to  speak.  The  exhortation  would  have 
passed  off  very  well,  especially  among  those 
unacquainted  with  him,  had  not  Salome  as 
she  was  passing  out  of  the  house,  gone  near 
enough  to  smell  his  breath.  It  was  now  her 
turn  to  exhort,  which  she  did  in  a  faithful 
manner,  and  after  becoming  sober,  he  was 
heartily  ashamed  of  his  conduct. 

From  Bridgewater  she  returned  to  Boston. 
This  was  sometime  in  the  month  of  July, 
and  she  remained  there  till  about  the  middle  of 
August,  when  she  left  to  visit  the  State  of 
Maine.     She  was  m  Boston  on  this  visit  about 


THE     PREACHER. 


Ill 


six  weeks,  and  the  manner  she  employed  her 
time,  may  be  seen  from  the  following  inter- 
esting letter  written  to  her  cousin,  Nancy  M. 
Phihps.  It  was  dated  July  2G,  1843,  and 
reads  as  follows  : — 

"Dmr  Cousin,  *****  \  r^^  ^s  pleasantly 
situated  as  I  could  be  in  the  city ;  and  although 
there  are  twenty  in  the  family,  *  yet  I  have  a 
room,  so  that  I  can  be  by  myself  almost  as 
much  as  thous^h  there  were  no  other  individ- 
ual  in  the  house.  O  Mariah  !  how  I  wish 
you  could  run  in  this  morning  and  take  a 
look  at  my  chamber,  but  as  this  cannot  be, 
I  will  tell  you  how  I  spend  my  time.  We 
take  breakfast  at  seven.  And  Br.  Norris  has 
kindly  sup[)lied  mc  with  books  from  his  libra- 
ry, so  that  after  breakfast  I  am  able  to  spend 
an  hour  or  two  in  study  and  meditation.  After 
this,  I  work,  read,  receive  company,  or  make 
calls,  just  as  circumstances  may  direct. — 
Every  evening  I  am  engaged,  either  in  class, 
prayer  or  preaching  meetings,  except  Satur- 
day. Yesterday  I  was  at  Charlestown,  and  a 
week  from  to-day,  I  expect  to  go  to  Maiden, 

*  While  in  Boston,  Salome  hoarded  in  the  family  of 
Sister  Crowell,  who  kept  a  boarding  house  near  the  Boyls- 
ton  Market. 


i 


i 


112 


MEMOIR. 


and  spend  the  Sabbath.  ♦  ♦  *  *  *  You  speak 
in  your  letter  of  doubts,  respecting  your  ac- 
ceptance with  God,  arising  from  unfaithful- 
ness, but  this  does  not  prove  to  me  that  you 
have  never  received  a  pardon  of  sin.  I  well 
remember  the  time  when  I  wholly  backslid, 
and  I  have  cause  to  lament  my  unfaithfulness 
even  now ;  yet  I  cannot  doubt  that  I  have 
known  something  of  the  power  of  religion. 
#  #  *  #  Determine  to  be  a  christian,  emd  follow 
the  Lord  in  all  things,  and  then  you  will  find 
the  way  comparatively  easy." 

Yours  aifectionately, 

Salome  Lincoln. 

One  or  two  evenings  before  she  embarked 

for  the  State  of  Maine,  the  city  was  thrown 

into  commotion,  on  account  of  the  burning  of 

the  UrsuUne  Convent  at  Charlestown.     This 

institution  was  located  about  two  miles  west 

of  the  Bunker  Hill  monument.     The  ruins 

are  still  to  be  seen  ;  and  it  is  said  the  Pope 

intends   to   let   them   remain,   as   a  witness 

against  the  Protestants,  and  to  whet  the  sword 

of  vengeance,  when  he  shall  have  gained  the 

ascendency   over   this  country.      And   how 

soon  this  may  take   place,   the   Lord   only 

knows ;  but  this  we  do  know,  Catholicism  i% 


THE     PREACHER. 


113 


m 


rapidly  spreading — the  power  of  the  Pope  is 
daily  increasing,  and  we  have  just  reason  to 
fear  that  shortly,  if  not  checked,  wc  shall  have 
to  how  our  iiech^^  in  humble  subjection  to  his 
HOLINESS,  the  Roman  Pontiff. 

But  savs  the  reader,  "  How  shall  we  check 
it  ?  "  Not  by  trampling  upon  their  rights, 
as  freemen — plundering  their  property — rav- 
at^inir  their  dwellino's — burning  their  institu- 
tions, — and  insulting  them  at  every  corner  of 
the  streets  at  open  noon-day  ;  but  if  it  is  done 
at  all,  it  must  be  done  by  the  'power  of  moral 
suasion  ;  when  that  fails,  our  case  is  hopeless. 
And  here  I  could  wish,  that  I  had  the  power 
to  make  an  appeal  that  should  be  heard  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  from  the  north- 
ern to  the  southern  boundary,  from  the  centre 
to  the  remotest  corners  of  our  nation.  — 
Christian  !  if  you  regard  your  own  interest, 
if  you  would  preserve  the  liberty  of  your 
country  inviolate,  and  if  you  would  save  the 
church  from  the  foul  contamination  of  po- 
pery —  AWAKE  before  you  find  yourselves 
locked  fast  in  shackles  of  inqnisitmi  ! 

But  do  you  say  there  is  no  cause  of  alarm  7 

Let  me  remind  you  of  the  former  history 

of  the   church  ;    and  then  look  about  you, 


1 


114 


MEMOIR. 


and  as  you  witness  their  wealth,  their  daily 
increase  of  numbers,  and  the  rapid  emigra- 
tion from  other  countries,  let  it  stimulate  you 
to  put  forth  every  exertion  to  save  yourself, 
and  those  around  you  from  this  monster, 
"  The  man  of  sin  I  "  Yet  not  by  physical,  but 
moral  force  !  Never  act  on  the  principle  of 
doing  evil,  that  good  may  come. 

The  circumstances  connected  with  the 
burning  of  the  convent  at  Charlestown,  as 
related  by  Sister  Lincoln,  in  a  letter  written 
to  her  father,  are  briefly  these, — *  *  *  *  * 
"  A  young  lady  from  the  State  of  New  York 
sent  there  by  her  friends  to  be  educated,  was 
prevailed  upon  by  the  authorities,  to  take  the 
veil ;  *  but  soon  repenting  of  this  step,  she 
fled  from  the  convent,  and  sought  the  protec- 
tion of  a  distant  friend.  But  not  long  after 
she  was  visited  by  the  bishop,  who  promised 
her,  if  she  would  return  with  him,  she  should 

*  The  veil  is  an  article  of  dress  worn  by  Nuns ;  and 
after  taking  it,  the  individuals  are  supposed  to  have  dedica- 
ted themselves  to  perpetual  religious  seclusion.  When  the 
candidate  is  about  to  be  made  a  nun,  she  puts  on  a  religious 
habit  worn  by  them,  and  presents  herself  before  the  bishop, 
and  sings  "  The  bride  of  Christ  I  am  !"  She  then  receives 
the  veil  4*c.  and  an  anathema  is  denounced  against  all  who 
shall  attempt  to  make  her  break  her  vows. 


THE     PREACHER. 


115 


be  honorably  discharged  in  two  or  three 
weeks.  She  accordingly  returned,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  weeks  her  friends  called  for 
her,  but  she  was  not  to  be  seen.  The  select 
men  of  the  town  being  applied  to,  went  to  the 
convent  and  demanded  her.  She  was  at  last 
brought  forward,  when  she  stated  that  she  was 
at  liberty  to  go  when  she  pleased,  but  she  chose 
to  remain.  Her  appearance  was  such  as  led 
to  the  belief  that  she  had  been  confined  in  the 
cell,  and  severely  tortured,  and  that  she  did 
not  speak  the  truth.  Last  night  {Aug.  11,)  a 
mob  of  about  1000  men  *  from  this  city  went 
over  at  midnight,  in  disguise,  and  with  lighted 
torches  searched  every  cell,  and  at  the  same 
time  set  fire  to  the  building.  The  alarm  was 
immediately  given,  and  the  engine  compa- 
nies turned  out,  but  when  they  found  what 
it  was,  they  refused  to  play,  and  together 
with  the  mob,  stood  and  looked  on  till  it  was 
completely  demolished."  j; 

However  bad  might  have  been  the  charac- 
ter of  this  institution,  it  was  very  unwise,  to 
take  the  course  they  did  to  destroy  it;  and 
its  ruins  has  done  more  to  build  up  catholi- 

*  Probably  several  thousand. 


m 


lie 


MEMOIR. 


cism  in  this  country,  than  all  their  preaching 
for  the  last  two  centuries. 

Had  the  lightnings  of  heaven  destroyed  it, 
we  might  have  rejoiced  ;  hut  the  same  prin- 
ciple that  laid  that  in  ruins,  would  demolish 
any  other  institution,  when  the  sentiment  ad- 
vocated clashed  with  the  corrupt  principle 
of  their  own  hearts.  And  should  I  he  called 
upon  to  prove  my  assertion,  I  will  only  refer 
the  reader  to  the  mob  of  1842,  which  assem- 
bled around  the  Bowdoin  Square  church, 
while  Elder  Rnapp  was  lecturing  there,  and 
undoubtedly  might  have  leveled  it  to  the 
ground,  had  not  the  city  authorities  promptly 
interfered. 

Salome  in  company  with  Sister  Norris,  the 
wife  of  Elder  Norris,  and  some  other  friends 
embarked  for  Maine  on  the  fourteenth  of 
August.  They  went  down  in  a  packet  bound 
for  Augusta,  *  which  left  Boston  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  after  a  voyage 
of  twtf  days,  arrived  within  a  few  miles  of 
the  place  of  destination.  They  were  in- 
tending to  have  landed  at  Augusta,  but  the 

*  Augusta,  the  capital  of  Maine,  is  a  flourishing  town 
situated  on  the  Kennebec  river,  North  East  of  Portland, 
and  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  State. 


Tlllk     PREACHER. 


117 


weather  proving  calm,  they  were  obliged  to 
anchor,  and  land  in  the  boats  at  a  town  a  few 
miles  this  side.     At  this  place  they  took  the 
stage  and  proceeded  on  to  Reedfield.*    She 
stopped  at  Reedfield  several  days,  and  while 
here   preached  on  Kent's  Hill,t  to  a   large 
congregation.     She  was  solicited  to  preach 
there  again,  but  some  objection  being  raised, 
she  declined  ;  but  gave  out  an  appointment 
for  a  meeting  in  a  village  at  Fayette  ;  {  and 
wlien  the  time  arrived,  a  large  congregation 
assembled,   and    among   them,  many  of  the 
students,  who  had  followed  her  down  from 
the  hill,  so  eager  were  they   to  hear.     She 
afterwards  preached  several  discourses  in  the 
same  neighborhood,  and  once  in  a  grove. 

She  remained  in  this  section,  seven  or 
eight  weeks,  and  while  gone,  visited  besides 
the  towns  already  noticed,  Hallowell,  Augus- 
ta, Wane,  Livermore,  Green,  Minot,  Leeds, 

&c.  ^c. 

"In  these   places"    (says   Elder   Norris) 

*  A  town  a  few  miles  beyond  Augusta. 

t  That  part  of  Reedfield  where  the  Methodist  Schoolis 
located. 

t  The  place  where  she  preached  in  Fayette,  is  but  a  short 
distance  from  Kent's  Hill. 

11 


i 


A 


118 


MEMOIR. 


**  she  was  generally  well  received,  she  drew 
out  kundredSf  and  in  some  instances  thousands 
to  hear  her  preach  ;  and  she  occupied  Meet- 
ing-houses, School-houses,  Town-houses  and 
groves,  as  the  occasion  and  opportunity  seemed 
to  direct.  In  some  of  these  places  her  ser- 
moni  produced  much  effect,  especially  in 
Reedfield,  Leeds,  Fayette,  Wane,  and  Liv- 
ermore." 

Having  closed  her  visit  there  she  made 
preparation  to  return  again  to  Boston,  al- 
though her  friends  were  very  anxious  that  she 
should  remain  longer  ;  and  accordingly  with 
those  who  accompanied  her,  she  took  a  packet 
bound  homeward,  and  after  a  prosperous 
voyage,  landed  safely  in  her  own  native  state. 
While  returning,  it  is  stated  she  preached  on 
board  the  boat,  but  nothing  more  definite  can 
be  said  in  relation  to  her  discourse.  After 
arriving  at  Boston  she  returned  home,  where 
she  probably  remained  during  the  rest  of  the 
season. 

Leaving  the  remaining  events  of  this  year, 
I  hasten  to  close  the  chapter ;  I  should  be 
glad  if  it  were  in  my  power,  to  be  still  more 
definite  during  this  period ;  although  I  am 
sometimes   led  to   think,  while  reading  the 


THE     PREACHER. 


119 


memoir  of  others,  that  a  constant  repetition 
of  events,  though  interesting  in  themselves 
render  a  work  of  this  character  dull  to  the 
reader,  from  the  sameness  in  style,  which 
must  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  unavoid- 
ably occur.  But  notwithstanding  this,  I 
should  be  glad  to  particularize  here,  as  I  am 
fully  satisfied  in  my  own  mind,  that  this  was 
one  of  the  most  important  periods  of  her  life. 
But  unfortunately  as  the  papers  which  we 
have  gathered,  throw  but  little  light,  the  rea- 
der must  remain  satisfied  at  present,  *  with 
what  I  have  now  in  an  imperfect  manner 
endeavored  to  lay  before  him. 

With  the  close  of  this,  I  shall  have  finished 
the  series  of  chapters  which  I  have  thought 
proper  to  head  **  The  Female  Preacher, "  and 
shall  enter  upon  another  event  which  though 
not  so  important  in  its  nature,  is  equally  in- 
teresting ;  and  here  I  would  add,  that  though 
I  shall  not  designate  her  by  the  title  of  those 
chapters,  let  not  the  reader  gain  the  impres- 
sion, that  I  shall  no  longer  notice  her  in  that 

*  Should  the  sale  of  this  edition  warrant  us  in  publishing 
another,  many  more  facts  may  be  added,  as  we  shall  have 
an  opportunity  of  visiting  Maine,  and  many  other  places 
where  she  labored  in  1833  and  '34. 


^1 


120 


M  EMOI  R. 


important  relation  ;  as  I  have  yet  several  very 
interesting  circumstances  to  relate. 

And  now  respected  reader  !  having  traced 
the  life  of  Sister  Lincoln  thus  far,  and  having 
learned  her  trials,  the  evidence  of  her  high  call- 
ing, the  success  which  attended  her  labors,  are 
you  not  satisfied,  whatever  may  be  right  or 
wrong  on  this  subject,  that  she  engaged  in 
this  work  with  pure  motives,  and  with  a  mind 
deeply  convicted  that  God  had  made  it  her 
duty.  If  you  are  not,  any  thing  further  that 
I  could  add,  will  fail  of  its  object,  therefore  I 
close  the  subject. 


121 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  WIFE. 

"  Marriage  is  honorable." — Pcnd, 

"  Joys  serious  and  sublime, 
Such  as  doth  nerve  the  energies  of  prayer, 

Should  swell  the  bosom — when  a  maiden's  hand, 
Filled  with  life's  dewy  flowers,  girdeth  on 

That  harness,  which  the  ministry  of  deatH:^ 
Alone  unlooseth,  but  whose  fearful  power 

May  stamp  the  sentence  of  ETEaN4T¥4  " 

While  marriage  is  honorable,  it  is  a  solemn 
and  interesting  rite ;  and  those  about  enga- 
ging in  it,  should  look  well  to  all  its  relations. 

Much  grace — moch  wisdom — and  much 
prayer,  is  needed  by  those  about  entering  into 
a  covenant,  so  solemn  that  the  poet  tells  us,  it 
is  stamped  with  the  impress  of  Eternity. — 
And  yet  how  few  there  are,  especially  among 
the  young,  who  are  wiUing  to  treat  this  sub- 
ject in  its  proper  light. 

Franklin,  and  some  other  excellent  writers, 
have  recommended  early  ma%riage,  as  the 
«iost  productive  of  happiness ;  and  while  I 


m 


122 


THE     WIFE. 


would  recommend  candid  and  prayerful  re- 
flection, I  would  in  no  wise  repudiate  this 
sentiment,  as  doubtless  one  of  the  principal 
causes  why  so  many  unhappy  unions  are 
formed,  is  that  they  are  formed  no  earlier  in 
life.  Early  marriages  are  the  most  favorable 
for  the  promotion  of  happiness,  from  the  fact, 
that  in  youth  our  feelings  will  more  readily  as- 
similate with  the  feelings  of  others. 

In  selecting  a  companion,  it  should  be  our 
aim  to  select  one,  whose  views — whose  feel- 
ings— whose  temperament — and  whose  inter- 
est, shall  correspond  with  our  own  !  One  with 
whom  we  can  take  sweet  intercourse — One 
who  shall  be  a  companion  in  health  and  pros- 
perity— a  solace  and  comforter  in  sickness — 
a  partner  of  our  misfortunes,  and  a  sharer  of 
our  joys  ! 

He  that  marries  upon  this  principle,  relying 
on  the  blessing  of  God,  will  not  fail  to  add 
not  only  to  his  own,  but  the  happiness  of 
those  around  him.  But  let  the  individual 
who  unites  in  marriage  with  another,  on  any 
other  principle,  remember,  that  he  is  prepar- 
ing for  himself  a  cvp  to  drinks  which  will  em- 
bitter all  the  social  relations  of  life. 


MEMOIR. 


123 


Sister  Lincoln  first  became  acquainted  with 
Elder  Mo  wry  sometime  in  the  fall  of  1831. 
She  was  at  that  time  preaching  on  Martha's 
Vineyard,  and  he  was  laboring  with  the  Free 
Will  Baptist  church  at  Taunton.  And  while 
on  one  of  his  pastoral  visits,  he  called  at  her 
father's  in  Raynham.  Her  cousin,  Nancy 
M.  Philips  was  about  writing  to  her,  and  as 
she  thought  Elder  Mowry  might  sympathize 
with  Salome  in  her  trials,  requested  him  to 
improve  a  part  of  the  sheet,  which  he  accord- 
ingly did  ;  but  without  the  most  distant  idea 
that  the  correspondence  thus  begun,  would 
ever  result  in  a  union.  The  following  is  an 
extract  from  the  letter  then  written  : — 

Raynham,  Nov.  Sth,  1831. 

**  Beloved  Sister  in  Christ  .-—Permit  one 
who  never  beheld  your  face,  to  address  a  few 
lines  to  you  by  way  of  comfort,  while  you 
are  upon  the  same  errand  of  mercy  to  the 
human  family,  as  he  who  is  penning  these 
lines : — The  errand  of  salvation  !  O  how 
delightful  to  carry  it  to  the.  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  apostate  Adam  !  What  a  theme  of  re- 
joicing to  our  souls,  that  we  were  made  the 
partakers  of  that  principle,  which  teaches  us 
the   imp(M*tance  of  denying   self— taking  up 


124 


THE     WIPE. 


the  cross — and  following  in  the  paths  that 
lead  to  heaven !  O  may  we  at  this  time  though 
strangers  in  the  flesh,  praise  that  God  in  the 
spirit,  who  is  a  spirit,  "  and  seeketh  such  to 
worship  him  ;  that  it  may  be  done  in  an  ac- 
ceptable manner."  *****  Experience  has 
taught  me  the  trials  you  have  to  encounter  in 
this  vale  of  tears,  but  how  happy  should  we 
be  to  think  that  Jesus  has  marked  the  way 
with  his  blood.  *****  O  Salome,  be  faithful 
in  all  things,  and  God  will  bless  you  !  study 
the  scriptures — pray  much — watch  over  your 
own  spirit,  pray  for  yourself — pray  for  Zion ; 
pray  for  me — pray  for  all !  " 

Yours,  &c. 

JUNIA  S.  MOWRY. 

Soon  after  receiving  this,  she  took  occasion 
to  return  the  following  reply  : — 

TisBURY,  Nov.  "llth,  1831. 
Brother  Mowry: — I  acknowledge  with  plea- 
sure, the  reception  of  a  few  lines  from  you 
in  my  cousin's  letter,  and  I  now  propose  to 
spend  the  few  leisure  moments  I  have,  in 
writing  to  one  whom  I  can  address  by  the 
appellation  of  friend  though  a  stranger  in 
the  flesh. 


MEMOIR. 


125 


There  is  a  tie  that  binds  the  lovers  of  Jesus 
together  stronger  than  anything  of  an  earthly 
nature,  and  while  reading  your  letter,  I  felt 
that  it  was  the  language  of  one  who  knew 
how  to  sympathize  with  me.  *  *  *  *  * — Yes, 
Br.  Mowry,  I  can  praise  God  with  you,  for 
the  promise  we  have  beyond  the  grave,  of  an 
inheritance   that  is  better  than  any  earthly 
possession,  and  that  we  have  an  earnest  of 
this  inheritence  in  the  present  life  ;  and  thank 
the  Lord  that  the  way  is  the  same  now,  that 
it  was  when  the  apostle  counted  all  things 
as  loss  and  dross  for  the  excellency    of  the 
knowledge  of  Christ.     I  have  never  repented 
the  sacrifice   I  have  made  for  the  cause  of 
God,  and  poor  souls.     There  is  truly  a  satis- 
faction in  proclaiming   a  full  and  free  salva- 
tion to  the  perishing  sons  and  daughters  of 
Adam,   and  pointing  sinners  to  the  lamb  of 
God.  *****  I  yf\\{    now   draw  to  a  close, 
and  if  we  never  meet  on  earth,  may  we  meet 
around  our  father's  dazzling  throne,  there  to 
unite  in  the  praises  of  His  great  7iamey  *  *  *  * 

Yours,  &c. 

Salome  Lincoln. 

Although  these  letters  passed  between  them 
at  this  time,  yet  they  were  not  favored  with 


126 


THE     WIFE. 


a  personal  interview,  till  some  months  after- 
wards. * 

She  returned  from  the  Vineyard  in  the 
spring  of  1832,  and  while  on  her  visit  at 
home,  she  attended  a  meeting  held  at  Whit- 
tington  village  ;  *  where  Elder  Mowry  had 
an  appointment  to  preach.  After  sermon  she 
made  some  remarks,  and  the  meeting  being 
concluded,  they  met  and  conversed  familiarly 
for  a  few  moments,  and  then  separated  ;  and 
from  this  time  till  1835,  the  year  of  their 
marriage,  they  held  but  little  if  any  corres- 
pondence. 

After  resigning  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
church  at  Taunton,  Elder  Mowry  left  and 
went  to  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  and  became  the  Pas- 
tor of  the  Freewill  Baptist  church  in  that 
place,  and  preached  to  them  one  half  of  the 
time,  and  the  other  half  they  were  destitute. 
This  being  the  case,  and  Elder  Mowry  learn- 
ing that  Sister  Lincoln  had  no  particular 
place  of  labor,  proposed  to  some  of  the 
friends,  that  she  be  invited  to  make  them  a 
visit.  The  proposition  being  acceded  to. 
Elder  Mowry  soon  after  went  into  the  vicin- 

*  A  village  about  two  miles  north  of  the  Court  House  in 
Taunton. 


MEMOIR. 


127 


ity  of  Taunto.a,  to  attend  a  protracted  meet- 
ing, where  he  found  Salome.  He  informed 
her  of  what  had  transpired  at  Tiverton,  in 
relation  to  herself,  and  she  consented  to  re- 
turn with  him. 

*'  On  the  way  to  Tiverton,"  says  Elder 
Mowry,  "  our  conversation  turned  on  chris- 
tian experience  in  the  ministry  —  minister's 
families,  and  the  choice  of  ministers  in  select* 
iyig  their  companions  for  life  ;  and  at  about 
the  conclusion,  I  remarked,  that  I  trusted 
when  God  thought  it  duty  for  me  to  be  thus 
associated,  he  would  provide  some  one,  with 
a  heart  and  qualifications  suited  to  my  work  ! 
She  afterwards  told  me,  that  this  remark 
was  what  first  called  her  mind  to  the  subject 
of  marriage." 

While  at  Tiverton  this  summer,  she  boarded 
in  the  family  of  Mr.  Peleg  Sanford.  This 
was  in  the  year  of  1835.  Half  of  the  time 
on  the  Sabbath  she  preached  in  the  old  meet- 
ing-house, belonging  to  the  Baptists,  *  and 
the  other  half  wherever  opportunity  ofl!*ered ; 
and  during  the  week   she  held  meetings  in 

*  This  meeting-house  stood  where  the  new  Freewill  Bap- 
tut  now  stands,  not  far  from  Adam's  Corner  in  Little  Comp- 
ton. 


128 


THE     WIFE. 


that,  and  in  the  adjoining  sections.  At  Tiv- 
erton she  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  christian, 
and  her  labors  as  in  other  places  were  pro- 
ductive of  good.  She  was  made  the  iristru- 
ment  in  the  hands  of  God  of  several  hopeful 
conversions,  and  among  the  rest  was  the  case 
of  Br.  James  Manchester,  whose  mind  at 
that  time,  if  not  bordering  on  skepticism,  was 
in  an  impenitent  state.  One  evening  during 
the  summer,  she  preached  in  a  school-house 
in  the  town  of  Westport,  *  from  the  following 
text : 

"  Quench  not  the  spirit.'' — I.  Thes,  v.  19. 

Br.  Manchester  was  present.  The  word  in 
times  past  had  failed  in  reaching  his  heart, 
and  though  his  wife  who  was  a  professor,  felt 
a  deep  anxiety  for  his  salvation,  and  often  ex- 
horted him  to  seek  an  interest  in  Christ,  yet 
like  many  others,  he  manifested  no  concern 
about  himself;  and  when  the  spirit  of  God 
strove  with  his  conscience,  like  one  of  old  he 
would  say,  "Go  thy  way  for  this  time,  when 
I  have  a  more  convenient  season  I  will 
call  for   thee."     The  word   now  preached, 

*  Weslport  is  a  town  in  the  South  East  part  of  Mass.  ia 
the  southern  part  of  Bristol  County,  South  East  of  Tiverton 
and  West  of  Little  Compton. 


MEMOIR. 


129 


took  a  deep  root  in  his  heart,  and  he  decided 
on  the  spot,  that  he  would  seek  the. Lord, 
while  he  might  be  found,  and  no  longer 
quench  his  Holy  Spirit.  He  went  burdened 
with  sin  about  two  weeks,  and  then  found 
peace  in  believing,  and  is  now  an  active  mem- 
ber in  the  church. 

Soon  after  she  came  to  Tiverton,  as  is  fre- 
quently the  case  in  such  places,  it  began  to  be 
whispered  about,  that  a  union  was  contempla- 
ted between  herself  and  Elder  Mowry.  But 
in  this,  as  in  many  other  cases  where  such  re- 
ports are  flying,  there  was  but  little  ground 
to  build  upon,  as  they  contemplated  no  such 
event  till  some  months  after. 

From  the  following  letter  written  by  her- 
self, it  would  seem  she  consented  to  become 
the  wife  of  Elder  Mowry  sometime  in  the 
month  of  September  1835  ;  *  and  as  it  is  ex- 
pressive of  her  feelings  on  that  subject,  I 
shall  take  the  liberty  to  present  the  reader 
with  a  brief  extract. 

Raynham,  Sept.  28,  1835. 

"  Dear  Brother  in  Christ :     In  compliance 

*  It  might  not  have  been  till  later  in  the  fall.  I  drew  the 
inference  from  the  letter,  but  as  it  is  of  but  little  impor- 
tance ;  after  reading  the  letter  the  reader  may  draw  his  own 
inference. 

12 


^ 


<l| 


130 


THE     WIFE  . 


with  your  recjuest,  and  in  accordance  with  my 
own  inclination,  I  liave  now  retired  to  con- 
verse awliile  with  you,  though  absent !  A 
privilejre  which  I  highly  esteem — that  of  re- 
tiring from  the  bustle  of  the  world  and  con- 
versing with  friends  far  away.  It  is  some- 
times more  pleasant,  even  to  think  of  distant 
friends,  than  to  converse  with  those  that  are 
witli  us  ;  but  more  pleasant  still  to  communi- 
cate with  those  that  occupy  our  thoughts — it 
is  next  to  conversing /ace  to  face*  Nothing  of 
importance  has  occurred  since  I  saw  you. — 
I  stopped  in  Taunton  the  next  ni^ht,  and  the 
following  day  came  home,  where  I  found  my 
friends  all  well.  *****  You  requested  me 
to  write  my  thoughts  when  1  got  home,  and 
was  alone.  I  am  now  alone  ;  but  if  as  I  then 
understood  you,  you  meant  upon  the  subject 
about  which  we  were  conversing,  I  must  con- 
fess I  know  not  where  to  begin.  But  with 
regard  to  some  questions  which  you  asked, 
and  which  I  did  not  then  answer,  I  have  since 
thought  you  might  impute  vay  silence  to  in- 
difference. But  if  it  would  be  any  satisfac- 
tion for  you  to  know,  I  will  acknowledge,  that 
were  I  to  consult  the  feelings  of  my  heart, 
and  then  be  honest,  I  suppose  I  should  answer 


MEMOIR. 


131 


the  question  in  the  affirmative;   but  fearing: 
that  my  affections  were  too  easily  gained,  and 
that  you  were  prompted  by  pity  for  my  lonely 
condition  more  than  any  other  sentiment,  I 
had  determined  to  be  guarded  in  my  expres- 
sions and  keep  them  locked  up  in  the  secret 
chambers  of  my  own  heart — at  least  for  the 
present ;  and  perhaps  it  would  have  been  as 
well  if  I  had  not  expressed  what  I  have  here 
written.  *****!  feel  that  I  can  submit  all 
to  the  ivill  and  direction  of  the  Lord  !    O  that 
we  may  be  guided  by  him  in  all  the  affairs 
of  life — that  whether  we  spend  our  days  to- 
gether or  apart,  we  may  spend  them  to  the 
glory   of  God,   and  be  useful  to  our   fellow 
creatures  !     Pray  for  me,  and  pardon  this  im- 
perfect scrawl  !"*****. 

Yours  in  the  Lord, 

Salome  Lincoln. 
A  iew  months  before  her  marriage,  she 
again  visited  Martha's  Vineyard  to  attend  a 
camp-meeting.  They  had  a  pleasant  voyage, 
and  arrived  on  the  island  a  little  after  sunset, 
and  just  as  the  services  for  the  eveninff  were 
commencing.  In  the  language  of  the  poet  it 
was  a 

"  Sweet  day,  so  pure,  so  calm,  so  bright, 
The  bridal  of  earth  and  sky ! " 


V 


^ 


132 


THE     WIPE. 


"  The  place  where  the  meetings  were  held," 
in  her  own  language,  "  was  a  delightful  spot, 
shaded  with  large  oaks  and  inclosed  with  a 
circle  of  tents,  upwards  of  twenty  in  number. 
The  scenery  was  beautiful ;  and  everything 
around  seemed  to  breathe  the  spirit  of  devo- 
tion !  I  felt  to  say  with  the  poet," 

"  O  would  He  more  o(  heaven  bestow, 

And  let  ihe  vessel  break  ; 
And  let  my  ransomed  spirit  go, 

To  grasp  the  God  I  seek  ! " 

Having  now  been  absent  from  Martha's 
Vineyard  for  nearly  two  years,  she  met  with 
a  hearty  welcome  from  many  of  her  former 
associates  and  friends;  and  although  she  did 
not  preach,  yet  she  was  very  far  from  being 
idle,  as  she  was  actively  engaged  in  the  tents 
in  holding  circles  of  prayer.  While  engaged 
in  these  duties,  a  lady  by  the  name  of  Lewis — 
now  the  wife  of  Edward  Luce,  was  struck 
under  powerful  convictions.  She  went  into 
the  tent  where  they  were  praying,  but  she 
was  in  so  great  distress  of  mind,  that  she  en- 
tirely broke  up  the  meeting.  She  was  after- 
wards converted,  and  attributes  her  awaken- 
ing to  the  labors  of  Sister  Lincoln.  In  speaking 
further  of  her  visit,  she  says,—"  The  meetings 


JR 


MEMOIR. 


133 


were  interesting,  and  some  of  them  peculiarly 
so.  We  had  preaching  four  times  a  day, 
with  prayer-meetings  at  every  interval ;  and 
about  seventy  professed  to  have  submitted  to 
Christ.  The  parting  scene  was  heart-rending ; 
but  we  parted  in  hopes  of  a  meeting,  where 
we  shall  no  more  take  the  parting  hand ! 
About  nine  o'clock  Saturday  morning,  we  left 
the  island,  but  the  wind  was  against  us,  and 
after  beating  about  all  day,  came  to  anchor  in 
Tarpaulin  Cove,  and  some  of  the  brethren 
went  on  shore,  and  after  obtaining  a  place  for  a 
meeting  sent  word  to  the  other  vessels  laying 
there,  so  that  in  a  short  time  we  had  a  large 
congregation  ;  and  before  the  meeting  closed 
six  were  on  their  knees  begging  for  mercy. 
One  of  them  was  the  mate  of  a  brig  from 
New  York.  At  sunrise  the  next  morning,  we 
again  started  for  home,  and  landed  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day. — 
I  was  exceedingly  sick  all  day,  and  so  were 
many  other  passengers,  but  I  had  the  peace 
of  God  reigning  in  my  soul." 

Marriage  to  Elder  Mowry: — Sometime 
in  November,  Salome  left  Tiverton  and  re- 
turned home,  to  make  preparation  to  consum- 
mate her  union  with  Elder  Junia  S.  Mowry. 
12* 


134 


THE    WIFE. 


MEMOIR. 


135 


They  were  married  at  her  father's  residence 
in  Raynham,  December  2,  183o,  by  Elder 
Enoch  Sanford,  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  that  town.  In  the  evening  they 
held  a  meeting  at  the  same  place,  and  Elder 
Sanford  preached.  The  next  day  they  rode 
as  far  as  Rehoboth,  where  Elder  Mowry  was 
called  to  attend  a  funeral,  and  from  thence 
proceeded  on  to  his  father's  in  Smithfield, 
Rhode  Island. 

The  Sabbath  after  marriage,  they  attended 
meeting  at  Greenville,  *  and  Elder  Allen  t 
being  unwell,  requested  Elder  Mowry  to 
preach  for  him,  which  he  accordingly  did  in 
the  forenoon,  and  after  sermon  Elder  Allen 
gave  notice  that  Mrs.  Mowry  would  preach 
in  the  evening.  Their  marriage  was  not  gen- 
erally known  at  Smithfield,  and  hence  when 
this  notice  was  given  out,  it  produced  consid- 
erable excitement.  She  preached  in  the 
evening  to  a  congregation  much  larger  than 
was  usual  in  that  place. 

*  Greenville  is  a  village  in  the  southern  part  of  Smith- 
field,  about  three  miles  and  a  half  North  of  Smithville  Semi- 
nary in  North  Scituate,  R.  L,  and  eight  miles  west  of  Prov- 
idence. 

t  Then  Pastor  of  the  First  Free  Will  Baptist  church  in 
Smithfield. 


H- 


She  afterwards  preached  several  times  in 
that  vicinity,  once  or  twice  in  the  meeting- 
house at  North  Scituate,  and  for  the  first 
church  in  Smithfield,  located  at  Georgiaville. 
After  concluding  their  visit,  they  returned  to 
Tiverton,  and  commenced  the  married  life, 
by  boarding  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Peleg  San- 
ford. 

Character  of  the  Wife  : — I  have  already 
in  a  former  chapter  noticed  her  general  and 
religious  character,  but  to  sustain  a  good  char- 
acter as  a  husband  or  wife,  implies  something 
more  than  is  generally  embraced  in  either  of 
these  ;  though  I  may  fail  properly  to  define 
the  difi'erence.     To  sustain  a  good  character 
as  a  wife,  implies  not  only  moral  purity,  but 
that  the  individual  is  qualified  to  discharge 
the  domestic  duties  upon  which  she  is  called 
to  enter — all   the  little  relations   connected 
with  household  affairs.     We  have  too  many 
trifles,  which  we  class  among  the  nonessentials. 
The  little  foxes  spoil  the  vines — little  drops 
make  up  the  ocean,  and  a  few  little  faults 
make  a  very  essential  difi'erence  in  our  char- 
acters !    But  while  I  make  these  remarks,  I 
would  not  be  understood  to  say,  that  an  indi- 
vidual can  be  entirely  free  from  fault — but  so 


136 


THE     WIPE. 


lon;^  as  we  justify  them,  either  in  ourselves  or 
others,  we  are  verily  guilty. 

One  of  the  traits  of  character  which  we 
shall  mark  in  the  good  wife,  is,  order  and 
neatness  nhout  her  house.  Though  an  individ- 
ual may  possess  every  other  trait  of  charac- 
ter that  is  amiable  and  lovely,  and  fails  in  this 
one  point,  she  fails  properly  to  discharge  her 
high  office. 

According  to  the  testimony  of  others,  and 
especially  her  husband,  Mrs.  Mowry  pos- 
sessed this  trait  of  character  in  a  high  degree, 
says  he — '*  Order  was  a  prominent  feature  of 
her  mind.  Every  thing  had  a  place,  and  every 
thing  was  in  its  place.''''  Another  trait  which 
I  shall  notice  in  the  good  wife,  is 

Industry. — Sister  Mowry  as  we  have  al- 
ready noticed  was  industrious,  through  every 
period  of  her  life,  from  the  cradle  to  the 
grave  ;  and  the  first  year  after  marriage,  be- 
sides attending  to  her  other  duties,  she  earned 
between  thirty  and  forty  dollars,  which  she 
expended  for  furniture.  But  while  she  was 
frugal  and  industrious,  and  provided  for  her 
own  wants,  her  heart  was  also  open,  and  she 
felt  deeply  for  the  wants  of  others.  On  one 
occasion  after  reading  a  letter  which  her  hus- 


ME  M  o  I  R .  137 

band  had  received  from  an  indigent  brother 
in  the  ministry,  she  was  so  deeply  affected, 
that  she  mentioned  his  case  in  the  congrega- 
tion, and  called  for  aid,  and  by  prompt  and 
persevering  exertion,  was  enabled  to  render 
him  assistance.  I  might  go  on  and  multiply 
the  qualifications  of  a  good  wife,  but  as  it  is 
a  deviation  from  the  design  of  this  work,  I 
proceed  to  notice  lastly,  that 

Affection  for  her  husband,  and  family,  is 
another  very  essential  qualification  in  the 
character  of  the  good  wife. 

Such  was  the  temperament  of  Mrs.  Mowry, 
that  she  made  no  pompous  display  of  love,  and 
hence  to  others  she  often  appeared  indiffer- 
ent, when  at  the  same  time  her  feelings  glowed 
with  warmth.  To  her  husband  she  was  an 
excellent  companion  and  assistant,  and  that 
she  loved  him  with  all  the  ardor  of  a  wife, 
we  cannot  for  a  moment  doubt,  if  we  may 
be  permitted  to  take  his  testimony,  as  re- 
ceived from  his  lips,  and  from  his  letters,  of 
which  the  following  is  an  extract. 

"  My  Bear  Salome  .-—Yours  of  the  25th  and 
29th  were  received  yesterday,  with  all  the 
heartfelt  satisfaction,  I  trust  a  husband  delights 
in^  from  one  who  is  bound  to  him  by  ties 


138  THE    WIPE. 

more  than  mortal — even  the  silken  chords  of 
affection,  and  the  spirit  of  Christ.  *  *  *  *  » 
I  can  never  repay  you  for  that  affection  which 
you  maifest  towards  me,  in  the  tokens  o^  love 
and  friendship,  with  which  your  letters  and 
acts  abound.  You  say  in  your  letter  ;  *  I  am 
comforted  in  your  comfort — sorrow  in  your 
sorrow,'  &c.  &c.  I  could  respond  to  that 
sentence  :  —  *  True  friends  are  one  in  soul, 
what  one  has  the  other  enjoys.' " 

I  have  not  noticed  these  traits  in  the  char- 
acter of  Sister  Mowry,  because  I  suppose  her 
to  DC  free  from  fault.  Although  she  pos- 
sessed the  qualifications  of  a  good  wife  in  as 
high  a  degree  perhaps,  as  the  majority  of 
women  ;  yet  '*  to  err  is  human,'*'*  And  as  she 
was  clothed  with  human  nature,  it  would  not 
be  surprising,  if  she  sometimes  deviated  from 
the  standard  of  the  perfect  xoife. 

Enters  upon  the  duties  of  the  wife. — 
Sister  Mowry  entered  upon  the  discharge  of 
her  domestic  duties,  in  the  spring  after  her 
marriage  (1836)  in  a  house  belonging  to  Dea. 
Borden ;  soon  after  which,  she  was  called  to 
pass  through  new  and  unexpected  trials, 
arising  out  of  some  difficulty  between  the 
Freewill   and   Christian  Baptist  societies  in 


MEMOIR. 


139 


Tiverton.  The  circumstances  are  these.  The 
land  on  which  the  parsonage  was  built,  was 
given  to  the  Baptist  society  in  Tiverton  by  a 
Mr.  Job  Alniy  for  the  use  of  said  society. — 
Elder  Mowry  at  this  time  was  the  regular 
pastor  of  the  church  to  whom  the  property 
belonged  ;  but  Elder  Peckham  their  former 
pastor  continued  to  occupy  the  house  till  his 
death,  when  it  was  advertised  to  let  by  the 
Christian  Baptists,  who  had  separated  them- 
selves from  the  regular  church.  As  soon  as 
this  advertisement  appeared,  it  excited  them 
to  action,  and  Elder  Mowry  was  prevailed 
upon  to  take  immediate  possession  of  the 
property  which  rightfully  belonged  to  them 
as  a  society,  and  accordingly  his  goods  were 
forthwith  moved  on  to  the  premises  ;  and  for 
this,  acting  as  he  did — agent  for  the  society, 
he  was  sued  for  ^*' forcible  entry.^* 

While  all  this  was  transpiring  at  home, 
Mrs.  Mowry  was  at  Raynham,  on  a  visit  to 
to  her  friends,  and  when  she  returned,  instead 
of  finding  her  furniture  where  she  had  left  it, 
she  found  it  set  up  in  one  smalUroom  in  the 
Parish-house  —  Widow  Peckham  occupying 
the  remaining  part. 


# 


140 


THE     WIFE. 


MEMOIR. 


141 


The  court  which  set  on  this  case,  was  heJd 
at  the  Stone  Bridge,  *  and  after  occupying 
one  day  in  going  through  the  evidence,  the 
case  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  Freewill 
Baptists. 

While  the  court  was  in  session,  on  being 
told  by  one  of  the  by-standers,  that  perhaps 
her  husband  would  have  to  go  to  jail,  she  re- 
plied, I  am  going  to  stay  and  see  how  they 
decide  the  case,  for  if  he  goes  to  jail  I  am 
<roino-  too.  This  anecdote  serves  to  corroborate 
what  we  have  already  stated  in  relation  to 
her  affection  for  her  husband. 

Thouflfh  the  combined  circumstances  at- 
tending  this  case  were  naturally  irritating,  yet 
through  the  whole  she  manifested  an  excel- 
lent spirit,  and  seemed  to  be  willing  to  make 
any  sacrifice  the  cause  of  God  required,  and 
had  not  circumstances  forced  her  husband  to 
be  so  much  from  home,  leaving  increased  re- 
sponsibility devolving  upon  her  ;  and  had  she 
not  been  forced  to  conduct  her  household 
aflfairs  in  so  small  a  compass,  she  would  have 
been  comparatively  happy  through  the  whole 
of  it. 

*  A  village  about  five  miles  from  the  meeting-house,  so 
called  from  a  bridge  which  runs  across  from  Tiverton  to  the 
island  of  Rhode  Island. 


Birth  and  death  of  her  child.  —  Her 
first  child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  was  born  Nov. 
2,  1837,  but  she  was  not  blessed  with  its 
society  long,  as  God  in  his  providence  saw 
fit  soon  after  to  take  it  to  himself.  God's 
ways  are  mysterious.  He  gives  and  he  takes 
away ;  and  when  perhaps  we  cannot  tell 
why, — a  valid  reason  is  prominent  in  the 
mind  of  the  deity.  I  have  sometimes  thought, 
that  the  tender  bud  is  thus  early  plucked,  to 
guard  the  fond  parent  against  letting  his  or 
her  affections  entwine  too  closely  around 
earthly  objects,  to  the  neglect  of  higher  duties. 
But  to  christian  parents,  when  their  children 
are  thus  taken  from  them  by  death,  there  is 
a  consolation  found  in  the  words  of  Christ : 
**  Of  SUCH  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

This  child  was  never  well  from  birth,  and 
was  several  times  brought  so  low,  that  it  was 
thought  to  be  dying.  The  disease  which 
finally  terminated  its  existence,  was  the  dropsy, 
and  after  a  protracted  illness  of  several  months 
it  fell  asleep  Feb.  5,  1839,  leaving  its  fond 
parents  to  mourn  its  loss. 

At  the  request  of  Sister  Mo  wry,  Elder 
James  Mc  Kenzie,  Pastor  of  the  Freewill 


13 


^ 


142 


THE     WIFE. 


MEMOIR 


143 


*f 


Baptist  Church  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  *  attended 
the  funeral,  and  preached  a  discourse  from  a 
text  selected  by  herself. 

**  Is  it  well  with  thee  ?  Is  it  well  with  thy 
husband  ?  Is  it  well  with  the  child  1 — And  she 
answered  ;  It  is  well."" — II.  Kings  iv.  26. 

She  felt  the  death  of  her  child  severely, 
yet  she  manifested  christian  resignation. — 
Says  Elder  Mc  Kenzie— *'  When  I  entered 
the  room,  there  was  no  boisterous  emotions 
of  grief,  but  her  looks  and  language,  was  ex- 
pressive of  an  entire  submission  to  the  will  of 
God." 

In  a  letter  afterwards  written  to  her  devo- 
ted friend  Elizabeth  Liscom,  she  says  :  — 
**The  sweet  little  pratler  has  gone  to  the 
world  of  spirits,  and  I  shall  soon  follow  !" 
But  how  soon  she  little  realized  !  We  are 
often,  deeply  impressed  with  the  uncertainty 
of  life,  but  none  know  how  brief  a  space  of 
time,  may  intervene  between  them  and  the 
eternal  world.  I  once  visited  the  sick-room 
gf  a  friend,  when  she  requested  me  to  sing 
the  following  lines  : — and  when  I  see  individ- 
uals living  from  day  to  day,  as  though  there 

*  Elder  Mc  Kenzie  is  now  pastor  of  the  Roger  Williams, 
a  Freewill  Baptist  church  in  Providence,  R.  I. 


were  no  death — no  judgment — no  Eternity 
I  often  think  of  them. 

"  My  days,  my  weeks,  my  months,  my  years, 
Fly  rapid  as  the  whirling  spheres, 

Around  the  steady  pole  ; 
Time,  like  the  tide,  its  motion  keeps. 
And  1  must  launch  thro'  boundless  deeps, 

Where  endless  ages  roll. 

Long  ere  the  sun  has  run  its  round, 
I  may  be  buried  under  ground, 

And  there  in  silence  rot. 
Alas  !  one  hour  may  close  the  scene, 
And  ere  twelve  months  shall  intervene, 

My  kame  be  quite  forgot! 

But  shall  my  soul  be  then  extinct, 
And  cease  to  be,  or  cease  to  think  1 

It  cannot — cannot  be  ! 
Thou!  my  immortal,  cannot  die, 
What  wilt  thou  do  or  whitheryZy 

When  death  shall  set  you  free  1 " 

After  her  marriage,  Sister  Mowry  preached 
only  occasionally,  during  the  absence  of  her 
husband,  or  as  she  went  out  from  home  to 
visit  with  him  in  different  places  among  their 
friends. 

In  the  year  1839  she  took  up  her  connec- 
tion with  the  Reformed  Methodist  church,  of 
which  she  had  been  a  member  for  a  series  of 
years,  and  united  with  the  Freewill  Baptist, 


\ 


■9 


144 


THE     WIFE. 


145 


1 


III 


I 


at  Tiverton.  We  have  now  seen  her  in  nearly 
every  relation  in  life  !  We  have  only  to  wit- 
ness her  through  one  more  trials  the  valley  and 
shadoiu  of  death,  when  perhaps  we  shall  be 
competent  to  judge  of  her  character,  and  the 
motives  which  governed  her  actions.  This 
solemn  event  will  be  the  subject  of  our  next 
chapter. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  LAST  SICKNESS. 

"  Consult  life's  silent  clock,  thy  bounding  vein, 
Seems  it  to  say— health  here  has  long  to  reign  f 

Hast  thou  the  vigor  of  thy  youth,  an  eye 
That  beams  delight,  a  heart  untaught  to  sigh  ? 

Yet  fear,  youth  oftentimes  healthful  and  at  ease, 
Anticipates  a  day  it  never  sees ! "— Cotrjjcr. 

It  oftentimes  becomes  the  duty  of  the  nar- 
rator to  record  events  which  his  feelings 
would  fain  prompt  him  to  pass  over  in  silence. 
We  love  to  dwell  upon  prosperity — we  love 
to  paint  the  beauties  of  nature — and  trace  the 
hidden  springs  of  happiness  ;  but  to  follow 
death  in  all  his  secret  windings,  is  equally  pain- 
ful, both  to  the  writer  and  reader ;  especially 
when  we  are  called  to  record  the  last  earthly 
scenes  of  a  beloved  friend  ! 

But  says  the  sacred  penman — "It  is  ap- 
pointed unto  men  once  to  die  " — and  there  is 
a  consolation  in  knowing,  that  those  of  whose 
virtues  we  speak,  have  died  in  the  triumph 
13* 


146 


LAST     SICKNESS. 


■f 


» 


9 


of  faith  and  are  now  sweetly  sleeping  in  the 
arms  of  Jesus. 

It  was  early  evident  to  the  friends  of  Mrs. 
Mowry,  that  the  seeds  of  death  were  sown 
in  her  constitution,  and  were  fast  ripening  for 
a  premature  grave  ;  and  yet  for  a  long  time 
they  continued  to  cherish  hopes,  that  by 
proper  care,  she  might  live  many  years  to  ex- 
tend her  usefulness  in  the  church,  and  in  the 
society  around  her.  But  alas,  how  vain  are 
all  our  expectations  !  Consumption  had  fixed 
its  firm,  though  steady  grasp  upon  her,  and 
was  silently,  though  almost  impreceptibly 
bringing  her  daily  nearer  and  nearer  to  the 
grave. 

Consumption   is    one    of  the   most   obsti- 
nate   diseases  with  which  the  skilful  physi- 
cian has  to  contend.     One  day  the  patient 
seems  to  be  in  the  enjoyment  of  health,  while 
on  the  next  he  is  worn  down  with  disease. 
It  is  like  the   waves  of  the  ocean — up  and 
down,   only    each    successive    wave    sinking 
deeper  and  deeper,  till  finally  it  places  its 
subject  forever  beyond  the  reach  of  hope. — 
But  after  all,  it  is  nature's  death !    So  calm — 
so  sweet,  that  the  poet  was  led  to  desire  that 
he  might  die  of  the  consumption,  in  order 


MEMOIR. 


147 


that  his  friends  while  they  stood  around  his 
coffin,  viewing  his  remains,  might  be  led  to 
exclaim,  "  O  how  lovely  !  " 

The  disease  which  terminated  the  existence 
of  Sister  Mowry  was  a  quick  consumption, 
which  had  its  origin  in  a  cancerous  humor,  to 
which  she  was  subject  from  childhood. 

There  are  several  kinds  of  consumption, 
and  they  are  as  different  in  their  results,  as 
they  are  in  their  nature  ;  for  while  one  leads 
its  subject  gently  along  as  described  above, 
other  kinds  are  attended  with  great  mental 
and  bodily  distress.  Such  was  the  nature 
of  the  disorder  with  which  she  was  afflicted. 

After  the  birth  of  her  second  child,  March 
20,  1841,  Mrs.  Mowry  never  regained  her 
health,  although  some  part  of  the  time  she 
was  able  to  keep  about  the  house/  They 
were  then  living  at  Warwick,  R.  I. ;  *  Elder 
Mowry  having  ended  his  labors  with  the 
church  at  Tiverton,  Nov.  1840,  and  taken  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Central  Freewill  Bap- 
tist church  in  the  village  of  Aponaug.  ^  Miss 
Nancy  Manchester,  the  present  wife  of  Elder 
Mowry,  was  with  her,  and  took  charge  of  her 

*  Warwick  is  in  Kent's  County,  about  ten  miles  South 
of  Providence. 


\ 


148 


LAST     SICKNESS. 


MEMOIR. 


149 


domestic  affairs  through  the  remaining  part 
of  her  life. 

Preached  her  last  Sermon. — It  is  often 
the  case  that  individuals  think  much  of  the 
last  acts,  or  the  last  words  of  a  departed 
friend ;  and  especially  if  they  were  called  to 
take  a  prominent  part  in  pubhc.  The  last 
notice  we  have  of  Mrs  Mowry's  preaching, 
is  contained  in  a  letter  written  to  a  friend* 
and  dated  April  5,  1840.  In  this  letter  she 
says  : — "  To-day,  as  we  were  disappointed  of 
a  minister,  I  have  tried  to  preach.  I  have 
not  attempted  it  before,  for  several  months, 
but  I  had  a  good  time  in  speaking  from  these 
words  : — 

"  If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new 
creature — I.  Cor.  v.  17. 

After  I  had  done  two  young  men  recently 
converted,  brought  in  their  testimony,  which 
was  to  the  point."  After  this  sermon,  she 
probably  never  took  a  text  in  the  public  con- 
gregation, although  she  may  have  been  en- 
gaged in  conferences,  where,  as  Eld.  Whitte- 
more  tells  us  her  talents  shown  with  peculiar 
lustre. 

Subsequent  to  the  twentieth  of  May,  1841, 
•he  never  left  her  room,  only  as  she  wa» 


carried  in  the  arms  of  her  husband  ;  and  for 
about  nine  weeks  previous  to  her  death,  she 
had  constant  watchers,  and  every  means  that 
could  be  suggested  to  the  minds  of  her  friends, 
was  resorted  to,  in  order  to  secure  her  recov- 
ery ;  but  all  in  vain,  as  from  that  time  she 
rapidly  declined.  In  a  letter  dated  July  6th, 
her  husband  says  : — 

"Salome  has  suffered  very  much.  She 
often  speaks  of  it.  She  has  been  singularly 
affected  — long  continued — and  still  it  looks 
dark.  Saturday  I  went  to  Providence  and 
called  upon  Dr.  Richardson,  (Botanic,*) — he 
comes  again  to-day — she  is  so  low  he  scarcely 
knows  what  to  say  of  her,  or  the  complaint. 
He  gave  her  medicine,  but  she  takes  only  a 
little  at  a  time,  and  it  distresses  her  exceed- 
ingly. In  some  respects  she  appears  better, 
in  others  not, — on  the  whole  is  more  comfort- 
able than  when  Brother  Whittemore  was  up. 
I  have  still  some  little  hopes  of  her  recovery, 
but  time  alone  can  determine." 

The  last  two  weeks  before  her  death,  she 
conversed  but  little,  owing  to  the  peculiar  state 

*  She  had  a  Botanic  Physician  at  her  own  request.  She 
seemed  to  have  confidence  that  they  could  restore  her  to 
health. 


^i 


m 


150 


LAST     SICKNESS. 


I 


I 


', 


of  her  mind  produced  by  her  disorder.  Her 
mind,  though  in  health  strong,  in  sickness 
seemed  to  be  broken  ;  but  as  death  drew 
nearer,  she  was  cahn  and  resigned,  and  ap- 
peared more  rational,  and  seemed  more  like 
herself. 

Last  hours  and  Death. — A  few  days  be- 
fore her  death,  Elder  Joseph  Whittemore, 
from  Tiverton,  called  to  see  her.  He  says — 
**She  appeared  to  know  me,  and  would  con- 
verse rational  about  the  people  of  Tiverton. 
She  expressed  a  siro?ig  desire  for  the  prosper- 
ity of  the  church  there  ;  and  when  asked  in 
relation  to  her  own  feelings,  she  said  she  was 
sensible,  she  should  never  get  well,  and  felt 
resigned  to  the  will  of  God.  She  also  re- 
marked, that  in  prospect  of  death,  she  felt 
more  calm  then  she  ever  expected  ;  although 
if  it  was  the  will  of  God,  she  should  like  to 
regain  her  health  ;  but  not  so  much  on  her 
own  account,  as  on  the  account  of  her  hus- 
band and  child." 

On  another  occasion  she  remarked  to  her 
husband,  that  she  did  not  have  that  lively,  an- 
imated state  of  feelings  which  she  desired, 
and  had  not  for  some  months  past, — but  felt 
firm,  and  could  rely  on  Christ  as  her  Savior. 


MEMOIR. 


1^1 


At  another  time   she   said—"  Christ  is   my 
only  hope  of  salvation,  on  which  Ileanmyall .'" 

When  asked  about  her  burial,  she  replied — 
**I  have  thought  much  of  it,  and  should  pre- 
fer to  be  laid  with  my  child  at  Tiverton." 

Durinirthe  last  iew  hours  of  her  life,  she 
seemed  to  lie  almost  entirely  senseless,  and 
in  so  great  a  bodily  distress,  that  her  groans 
were  heard  in  the  street  ;  and  at  the  same 
time,  she  was  in  a  state  of  mental  aberration. 
Her  bodily  suffering  during  this  period  was 
doubtless  beyond  conception,  and  it  would  not 
be  surprising  if  under  these  circumstances, 
she  often  appeared  indifferent,  as  to  her  situ- 
ation. She  remained  in  this  state  until  about 
four  o'clock  Wednesday  afternoon,  July  21, 
1841,  when  she  departed  this  life  to  be  with 
Jesus. 

She  is  now  free  from  pain  and  sorrow — her 
trials  are  at  an  end,  and  she  is  reaping  a  rich 
reward   for  all   her  toils,  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven  !    **  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in 

the  Lord !  " 

Her  earthly  pilgrimage  is  now  closed  ! — 
that  voice  which  once  sounded  the  news 
of  salvation  so  earnestly,  will  be  heard  no 
more !  Her  tongue  is  silenced  in  death  ! — Her 


i^i 


152 


HER   LAST    HOURS    AND    DEATH. 


MEMOIR. 


153 


eyes  which  beamed  with  intelligence  are 
closed — and  her  mortal  has  put  on  immortal- 
ity !  And  while  her  body  sleeps  in  the  cold 
arms  of  death  —  her  spirit  freed  from  its 
earthly  tenement,  bus  gone  to  inhabit  the  re- 
gions of  bliss — or  in  the  language  of  the  poet : 

"  She  has  gone  to  the  grave— but  we  will  not  deplore  her, 
Though  sorrow  and  darkness  encompass  the  tomb: 

The  Savior  has  passed  through  its  portals  before  her, 
And  the  lamp  of  his  love,  is  her  guide  through  the  gloom. 

She  has  gone  to  the  grave,  but  'twere  wrong  to  deplore  her, 
When  God  was  her  ransom,  her  guardian  and  guide ; 

He  gave  fcer— and  took  her — and  soon  will  restore  her, 
Where  dkath  hath  no  sting,  since  the  Savior  hath  died." 

At  the  time  of  her  death,  Mrs.  Mowry  was 
a  member  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  church  at 
Warwick.  This  is  the  second  time  within  a 
few  years,  that  that  church,  in  the  providence 
of  God  has  been  called  to  follow  the  remains 
o^heir  pastor's  companion  to  the  grave.* — 
God  is  speaking  by  these  events  to  the  church 
at  Warwick,  reminding  them  of  the  impor- 
tance of  working  while  the  daij  lastSf  remem- 
bering that  the  night  of  death  will  soon  come, 
when  there  will  be  no  more  opportunity. 

By  the  death  of  Sister  Mowry,  God  also 

*  Elder  Benjamin  Phelon,  while  he  had  the  charge  of  that 
church  buried  a  wife  and  child. 


speaks  to  the  surviving  friends,  and  especially 
to  those,  who  have  so  often  heard  her  voice 
in  prayer  and  exhortation,  and  have  not 
profited  by  her  admonitions,  but  who  are  yet 
without  Christ;  T  o  you  my  dear  friends !  God 
is  speaking  bv  this  providence  in  thunder  tones, 
saying,  -  be^e  also  ready  !  "-To  her  rela- 
tivesand  numerous  circle  of  pious  friends 
SHE  soon  loill  speak  with  the  voice  of  an  an- 
GEL,  in  tones  of  consolation  ;   "  Friends,  Jesus 

calls  come  home !  " 

Among  a  large  circle  of  relatives  and  friends, 

Mrs.  Mowry  left  one  child ;  *  then  four  months 

old— a  bright  black  eyed  little  girl !    Though 

possessing  naturally  a  delicate  constitution, 

yet  by  the   tender   care  of  her  parent  and 

guardian,  she  may  live  many  years,  to  follow 

in  the  footsteps  of  her  mother,— an  ornament 

in  society— a  pillar  in  the  church,  and  useful 

to  all  around  her  ! 

FUNERAL  OF  MRS.  MOWRY  :-The 

circumstances  connected  with  the  funeral  of 

Mrs.  Mowry,  were  solemnly  sublime  I    And  as 

probably  but  very  few  of  my  readers,   have 

ever  been  called  to  witness  anything  like  it, 

*  Amy  Mowry,  the  second  daughter  of  Salome,  was  bom 
March  20,  1841. 

14 


154 


FUNERAL. 


MEMOIR. 


155 


ihey  will  pardon  me,  if  I  should  wander  from 
that  deep  solemnity  which  should  ever  grace 
these  solemn  occasions.     There  is  that  con- 
nected   with  the   services    performed  at  the 
funeral  of  our  friends,  which  always  has  a 
tendency  to  touch  the  feelings,  and  draw  out 
the  sympathy  of  our  natures  !    The  assem- 
blinff  of  the  relatives  and  friends  together — 
The  touching  appeals  of  the  devout  minister 
of  Christ— The  appendages  of  the  dead— the 
palU  the  hier,  the  shroud,  the  co^/z- andthen 
the  solemn  tones  of  the  plaintive  bell,  as  the  pro- 
cession moves  slowly  onward  to  the  grave  ; — 
all,  all  conspire  to  melt  our  hearts,  and  make 
us  weep  I  But  to  witness  a  burial  at  midnight  ! 
to  lay  our  friends  down,  as  in  the  language 

of  the  poet, 

"  By  the  struggling  moonbeams^  misty  light, " 

far  surpasses  this,  and  everything  else,  within 
the  limits  of  discription  ! 

The  funeral  services  of  the  deceased  were 
commenced  at  the  residence  of  Elder  Mowry 
in  Warwick,  Friday  morning,  July  23.  At 
eight  o'clock.  Eld.  Fifeild,  a  Methodist  min- 
ister stationed  on  the  circuit,  made  a  prayer 
at  the  house,  after  which  they  moved  in  pro- 


cession to  Enst  Greenwich*     They  arrived 
there  about  te?i  o'clock  A.  M.  when  the  re- 
mains were  taken  from  the  hearse,  and  placed 
on  board  a  sloop,  waiting  for  the  purpose  of 
conveying   them    to   Tiverton.     Says   Elder 

Mowry : — 

"  The  liours  of  this  day  rolled  heavily." 

They  were  expecting  to  have  arrived    at 
Tiverton  by  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
but  the  day  proving  exceedingly  calm,  they 
made    but  little  progress;    and  it  was    past 
sunset  before  they  arrived  at  the  Stone  Bridge, 
«even   miles  from  the  place  of  interment.- 
Tiverton  and  Little  Compton  are  separated 
from  the  island    of  Rhode   Island  f  by   the 
Eastern    Passage    of  the  Narraganset   Bay, 
and  the   only   connecting  link   is  the   Stone 
Bridge,  just  referred    to.     The    tide   which 
com^s  in  from  the  ocean,  through  this  pas- 
sage to  Mount  Hope  Bay,  passes  and  re-pas- 

*  East  Greenwich  lies  South  of  Warwick,  and  the  place 
where  they  look  ihe  sloop  is  about  three  miles  from  Apo- 
naug. 

t  The  island  of  Rhode  Inland,  from  which  the  State  de- 
rives its  name,  is  situated  in  the  Narraganset  Bay.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  delightful  spots  1  have  ever  visited,  and  from 
its  fancied  resemblance  to  the  garden  of  Eden,  it  has  some- 
limes  been  called  the  Eden  of  America. 


156 


FUNERAL. 


ses  with  considerable  rapidity,  so  that  a  ves- 
sel wishing  to  go  through  the  drawer,  must 
pass  in  the  direction  of  the  tide. 

They  were  expecting  to  have  landed  four 
miles  below  the  bridge,  and  within  about  the 
same  distance  of  the  place  of  burial,  where 
some  of  the  friends  with  carriages  were  to 
meet  them.  But  when  they  arrived  at  the 
bridge  the  tide  had  just  turned  against  them, 
and  they  were  forced,  either  to  land  or  wait 
six  hours  longer ;  and  it  being  in  mid-summer, 

*  they  concluded  to  land. 

The  scene  which  is  now  to  follow,  surpas- 
ses description — the  pen  of  the  poet  would 
fail  to  paint  it ! — Having  obtained  a  sufficient 
number  of  carriages,  the  procession  again 
moved  forward — and  between  twelve  and  one 
o'clock,  Saturday  morning,  July  24th,  they 
arrived  at  the  place  of  burial ;  and  between 
ONE  and  TWO — at  **dead  o/*  night'' — while 
a  solemn  stillness  reigned  around, — they  laid 

her  DOWN,    IN    THE    SILENT    GRAVE  —  "  In 

Death's  cold  arms  to  sleep  !  " 

"  No  more  with  us,  her  tuneful  voice, 
The  hymns  of  praise  shall  swell ; 

No  more  her  cheerful  heart  rejoice^ 
To  hear  the  Sabbath  bell!  " 


MEMOIR. 


157 


Early  in  the  forenoon  of  the  same  aay, 
they  again  assembled  at  the  liouse  of  Elder 
Whittemore,  and  after  reading  a  portion  of 
Scripture,  he  offered  up  a  solemn  and  devout 
prayer  to  God ! 

The  room  where  they  were  assembled,  was 
the  same  in  which  she  had  lived — It  was 
painted  by  her  own  hands — and  the  same 
furniture  stood  in  it,  which  had  been  used  by 
herself;  and  as  simple  as  they  appear  in 
themselves,  these  circumstances  had  a  ten- 
dency to  render  the  scene  doubly  solemn  and 
interesting ! 

After  the  services  were  ended,  they  retired 
to  the  sloop — and  returned  to  Warwick. 

The  next  day  being  the  Sabbath,  two  fu- 
neral discourses  were  preached  to  the  church 
at  Aponaug;  one  in  the  forenoon  by  Elder 
Martin  Cheney,  a  Freewill  Baptist  minister 
from  Olneyville,  *  and  the  other  by  Elder 
Waterman  a  Congregationalist.t  Elder  Che- 

*  Olneyville,  is  a  villajje,  partly  in  Johnston  and  partly 
in  North  Providence,  R  I.  Elder  Cheney's  meeting-house 
is  in  Johnston,  about  two  miles  from  the  Court-house,  Prov- 
idence. 

t  I  should  be  exceedingly  glad  lo  present  the  reader  with 
an  outline  of  Elder  Waterman's  discourse,  but  not  having 
the  means,  it  is  out  of  my  power. 


m 


158 


FUNERAL     S  K  R  \  I  0  E  S  . 


MEMOIR. 


159 


ney'stext  was  from  the  words  of  the  Apostle 
contained  in  the  first  of  Thessalonians  :— 

•*  But  I  would  not  !iave  you  to  be  ignorant 
brethren,  conceming  them  which  are  asleep, 
that  ve  sorrow  not,  even  as  others  ivhich  have 
no  HOPE." — I.  Thess,  iv.  13. 

A  few  Sabbaths  after  Elder  Whittemore 
preached  a  funeral  discourse  to  the  church  at 
Tiverton,  laying  before  them  the  life  and 
character  of  the  deceased  ;  the  words  of  his 
text  were  as  follows  : — 

*«  That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but  followers  of 
them,  WHO  through /az^A  and  patience  inherit 

THE    promise."— He^TClt'S  Vi.   12. 

In  his  exordium  he  remarked,  —  "  It  is 
the  duty  of  the  living,  to  remember  those 
who  have  died  in  Christ,  and  to  copy  their 
example  as  far  as  it  was  good— and  in  discus- 
sing this  subject,  I  shall  show  :— 

I.  The  advantage  of  REMEMnERiNo  such 

AS  THROUGH  FAITH  AND  PATIENCE  INHERIT  THE 
PROMISE. 

II.  Mention  a  few  things  in  the  char- 
acter OF  the  deceased  worthy  of  remem- 
brance. 

Besides  these  sermons.  Elder  Whittemore 
also  wrote  an    obituary    notice,    which    was 


published  in  the  Morning  Star.*  He  was  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  her,  having  lived  in 
their  family  several  months  ;  and  having  many 
other  superior  advantages  over  the  author, 
I  can  only  regret  that  his  other  duties  pre- 
cluded him  from  the  privilege  of  transmitting 
to  the  world,  the  memoir  of  her,  who  so 
richly  deserves  a  place,  not  only  in  our  affec- 
tions but  also  in  our  memory. 

She  has  left  us,  and  gone  to  the  silent 
abode  of  the  dead,  where, 

"  The  stormlhat  wrecks  the  winter  skies, 
No  more  disturbs  her  deep  repose, 
Than  summer  evening's  latest  sigh, 
That  shuts  the  rose ! 

But  while  we  mourn  her  loss,  we  mourn 
not  as  those  destitute  of  a  hope  in  Christ, 
who  is  the  resurrection  ;  for  when  life's  flick- 
ering lamp  ceased  to  burn,  her  spirit  guided  by 
anj^els,  soared  away  to  the  mansions  of  Eter- 
nal rest — there  to  unite  with  those  kindred 
spirits  who  had  gone  before  her  ! — And  at 
the  resurrection  of  the  saints  she  will  stand 
in  her  lot  and  place  ! 

The  following  beautiful  **  Requiem,"  taken 
from  the  Philadelphia  Gazette,  and  supposed 

*  The  Morning  Star  is  a  religious  paper  published  by  the 
Freewill  Baptists  at  Dover,  New  Hampshire. 


160 


PLACE     OF     INTERMENT. 


MEMOIR. 


161 


to  be  the  production  of  the  editor,  composed 
on  the  death  of  his  accomphshed  lady,  was 
handed  to  me  by  Elder  Mowry  for  insertion. 

"  I  see  thee  still ! 
Remembrance  faithful  to  her  trust, 
Calls  thee  in  beauty  from  the  dust ; 
Thou  comest  in  the  morning  light— 
Thou'rt  with  me  through  the  gloomy  night ; 
In  dreams  I  meet  thee,  as  of  old, 
Then  thy  soft  arms,  my  neck  enfold, 
And  thy  sweet  voice  is  in  my  ear ; 
In  every  scene  to  memory  dear, 

I  see  thee  still ! 

I  see  thee  still ! 
Here  was  thy  summer  noon's  retreat, 
This  was  thy  favorite  fireside  seat ; 
This  was  thy  chamber,  where  each  day 
I  sat  and  watched  thy  sad  decay  ; 
Here  on  this  bed  thou  last  did  lie, 
Here  on  this  pillow,  thou  didst  die  ! 
Dark  hour !  once  more  its  woes  unfold — 
As  then  I  saw  thee  pale  and  cold, 

I  see  thee  still ! 

I  see  thee  still ! 
Thou  art  not  in  the  tomb  confined, 
Death  cannot  claim  the  immortal  mind  i 
Let  earth  close  o'er  its  sacred  trust. 
Yet  goodness  dies  rwt  in  the  dust. 
Thee  oh  beloved  !  'tis  not  thee, 
Beneath  the  cofl[in's  lid  I  see, 
Thou  to  di  fairer  land  art  gone — 
There  let  me  hope — my  journey  done 

ToseetheestiU."^ 


Mrs.  Mowry  was  buried  near  her  child,  in 
the  yard  a  few  rods  north  of  the  Stone  meet- 
ing-house belonging  to  the  Freewill  Baptisis 
in  Tiverton.  The  grave  is  situated  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  yard,  near  the  gate.  It 
is  marked  by  two  white  marble  slabs,  on 
which  is  inscribed  the  following  appropriate 
words:  — 

fin   iHtmorj 
or 

SALOME    MOWRY, 

THE   WIFE   OF 

ELDER  JUNIA   S.   MOWRY, 
Who  died  July  21, 1841,  in  the  Uih  year  of  her  age. 

She  spent  more  than  five  years  as  a  public  laborer 

in  various  places ;  mostly  in  thesoidh- 

eastern  part  of  Massachusetts, 


And  now  Dear  Reader  !— after  having  thus 
endeavored  to  lay  before  you  in  a  faithful 
manner,  the  life  and  character  of  Mrs.  Mowry, 
permit  me  to  take  a  kind  and  affectionate 
leave   of  you,  by   requesting   that  you  will 


936.5 


1^7 


162 


PLACE     OF     INTER  iMENT. 


Strive  to  profit  by  her  example— to  imitate 
her  virtues — and  Uve  here  in  such  a  manner, 
that  when  death  shall  draw  nigh,  like  the  apos- 
tle Paul  you  may  have  it  to  say,-'*I  h^\e  fought 
a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have 
kept  the  faith  :    Henceforth  tliere  is  laid  up 
for  me,  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which 
the  Lord  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me 
at  that  day  :    and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto 
ALL  them  also  that  love  his  appearing.''     May 
the  Lord  grant  it !  and  may  you   and  I,  so 
spend  our  days,  that  when  with  her  we  shall 
be  called  to  stand  at  the  judgment  seat  of 
Christ,  we  may  be  prepared  to  render  up  our 
account  •*  with  joy,  and  not  with  grief 


Errata.  Page  46,21st  line;  for  "will  never,"  read 
**ghaU  never."— 39th  page,  line  15,  read  "far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal,"  &c.— Page  111,  line  4,  for  1843,  read  1833. 


(t^bS'C^^^lt 


^o 


>t 

o 

00 

ex: 

in 

UJ 

o 

X 

o 

< 

UJ 

<-f 

Hi 

lA 

o 

u 

• 

< 

QO 

r^ 

s: 

rn 

00 

tu 

c^ 

X 

u. 

^ 


CO 


CO 

^1 


m 


M  l\: 


w^. 


'if^} 


r^    ;'  .-' 


tti 


